Although intriguing, Elon Musk’s audacious plan to establish human settlements on Mars over the next 20 years is fraught with difficulties. The hostile Martian atmosphere might physically turn inhabitants green, in addition to testing human endurance to the limit.
However, it’s not quite that simple. According to experts, anyone daring enough to go on this space voyage could face a number of major health hazards due to the harsh circumstances on the Red Planet. The challenges to long-term survival are significant and intricate, despite Musk’s lofty goals, which include sending the first SpaceX Starship to Mars in a few years.
Scientists have been warning of these looming threats and emphasizing the enormous obstacles we must face if humans are to not just survive but flourish on Mars.
Dr. Scott Solomon, a biologist at Rice University, is one expert who cautions that humans born on Mars may experience some very significant evolutionary changes. The harsh environment on the planet may cause these alterations, which may lead to some strange mutations. Solomon told Indy100 that future Martians might have to deal with issues including muscle atrophy, blurred vision, and even strange skin tones, like green.
Numerous variables are responsible for these alterations. Only 70% of the gravitational force that humans have evolved with is present on Mars due to its smaller size. Over time, the decreased gravity may damage our bones and muscles, making us far more brittle. However, that is only the beginning.
The ozone layer and magnetic field that safeguard humans from harmful space radiation are absent from Mars. Cosmic rays, UV light, and charged particles from the sun would constantly bombard settlers over there. These hazardous radiation levels would be added to the strain already placed on the human body by the low gravity.
Humans may mutate more quickly in these circumstances, according to Solomon, as a last-ditch biological reaction to the unfamiliar surroundings. The development of new skin colors as a defense against the radiation could be one extreme response. In his book Future Humans, Solomon speculates that “perhaps we could develop a new skin pigment—perhaps even green—to protect ourselves from the harsh radiation.”
Could we wind up producing the “little green men” we’ve only read about in science fiction as a result of our efforts to colonize Mars? Although that is still up in the air, one thing is certain: populating Mars would require not only significant technological advancement but also a thorough comprehension of how this new world will change humanity.
