Science

What If Humans Transferred to Mars Tomorrow?

First, we’d have to deal with the immediate shock to our biology. Mars has about 38% of Earth's gravity. While bounding around like an astronaut sounds fun,...

erichall 3 min read · 4 weeks ago

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First, we’d have to deal with the immediate shock to our biology. Mars has about 38% of Earth's gravity. While bounding around like an astronaut sounds fun, long-term exposure to low gravity wreaks havoc on the human body. Our bones would lose density, our muscles would atrophy, and our cardiovascular systems would become "lazy" because they no longer have to pump blood against strong gravity. Over a few generations, "Martian humans" would likely grow taller but have much more fragile skeletal structures than Earthlings.

Then there is the environment:

The Air: Mars has an atmosphere that is 95% carbon dioxide and is less than 1% as thick as Earth's. Step outside without a pressure suit, and your blood would literally boil.

The Soil: Martian dirt is full of toxic chemicals called perchlorates. We couldn't just plant potatoes in it (sorry, The Martian). We'd have to intensely wash and treat the soil first.

The Radiation: Mars lacks a thick atmosphere and a magnetic field to block solar radiation. Our cities would likely have to be built underground in lava tubes, or under feet of protective regolith (crushed rock).