Why Elon Musk's plan to colonize Mars may be a bad idea: Humans can turn green and go blind on the red planet

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Mars take shape, the dream of establishing a colony on the Red Planet faces formidable challenges. Experts warn that the planet’s extreme conditions could significantly affect human health and evolution. Biologist Dr. Scott Solomon from Rice University emphasizes that children born to settlers on Mars may undergo serious mutations, complicating their survival and well-being.

The Brutal Conditions of Mars

Mars is a smaller planet than Earth, featuring about 30% less gravity. It also lacks a magnetic field and a protective ozone layer, which exposes its surface to harmful space radiation, UV rays, and cosmic rays. Dr. Solomon, in his book Future Humans, explains that these environmental factors can trigger mutations in humans: «Perhaps in the face of this high radiation, we might evolve some new type of skin pigment to help us deal with that radiation. Maybe we get our own green men.»

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Health Risks for Future Generations

The potential health risks for future Martian settlers are severe. Dr. Solomon outlines that the low gravity could lead to brittle bones, making childbirth particularly dangerous. He warns that women’s pelvises may fracture during delivery due to weakened bones. Additionally, as human communities on Mars will likely be small and enclosed, the need to see long distances may decrease, potentially resulting in weakened eyesight over generations.

Ambitious Plans for Exploration

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