What Humans Living On Mars Will Look Like In 1,000 Years

Summary

This video explores the challenges humanity would face in colonizing Mars, from surviving in extreme conditions to the potential changes in the human body over generations. It discusses the effects of Mars' low gravity and high radiation levels, which could lead to shrinking muscles and bones, or eventually, the evolution of stronger bodies. The script also highlights how these changes could create new human species within centuries. The potential for genetic divergence could pose dangers, particularly when humans from Earth and Mars meet, complicating survival and reproduction. Ultimately, Mars may offer humanity a future, but the inhabitants may not be quite human.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mars is humanity's best option for colonization, but the challenges are immense, far beyond historical explorers like Magellan and Armstrong.
• 😀 Surviving on Mars involves adapting to extreme conditions, including lower oxygen, weaker gravity, and higher radiation levels.
• 😀 Physical changes to the human body in low gravity include muscle and bone weakening, as well as potential growth in height due to expanded vertebrae.
• 😀 The effects of low gravity on Mars could lead to even more severe physical changes over generations, with humans potentially becoming weaker versions of Earthlings.
• 😀 Humans may eventually evolve into stronger, more robust beings over millennia to survive the harsh conditions of Mars, though not with extreme features like green skin or extra limbs.
• 😀 Eating foods rich in carotenoids (like carrots) could help protect against harmful UV radiation, possibly turning humans' skin orange to shield against cancer.
• 😀 Mars has much higher radiation levels than Earth, with humans exposed to 5,000 times more radiation over a lifetime on Mars compared to Earth.
• 😀 Higher radiation levels on Mars would accelerate DNA mutations, potentially leading to the creation of new human species much faster than on Earth.
• 😀 Mutations caused by radiation on Mars could diversify the human gene pool and lead to new species within centuries, as opposed to the hundreds of thousands of years required on Earth.
• 😀 The genetic differences between Martians and Earthlings could lead to dangerous consequences if they were to mate, including immunity issues or infertility, similar to the deadly impact of smallpox on Native Americans.

Q & A

What makes Mars a promising option for colonization?

Mars is considered a promising option for colonization due to its proximity to Earth and its potential to support human life, despite the extreme conditions. The planet offers a challenge that could push humanity's boundaries in survival and adaptation.

How does gravity on Mars differ from Earth's, and how does this affect the human body?

Mars has a weaker gravitational pull compared to Earth, which could lead to physical alterations in the human body. In space, the absence of gravity causes muscles and bones to weaken, and this effect could be similar, though less extreme, on Mars over time.

What happened to astronaut Scott Kelly during his year-long stay in space?

Scott Kelly, during his year-long stay on the International Space Station, experienced significant changes in his body due to the zero-gravity environment. His muscles and bones weakened, and the space between his vertebrae expanded, making him two inches taller.

What are the potential long-term effects of living on Mars for human health?

In the long term, living on Mars could lead to a weakening of human bones and muscles, causing shorter lifespans and potential health complications, including neurological disorders if the skull shrinks along with the rest of the body.

How might humans evolve physically over generations on Mars?

Over hundreds or thousands of years, humans may evolve to adapt to Mars' environment. Initially, humans might become weaker with shrinking skeletons and muscles, but over millennia, evolution could result in stronger, more robust bodies better suited to the planet's harsh conditions.

Why might humans develop orange skin on Mars?

Humans on Mars might develop orange skin due to the high levels of UV radiation on the planet. Consuming carotenoids, found in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins, can provide protection against UV radiation, which could result in orange pigmentation as a protective mechanism.

How does radiation on Mars compare to radiation on Earth?

The radiation on Mars is significantly higher than on Earth. While Earthlings receive about 3 millisieverts of radiation per year, Martians would receive 30 millisieverts annually, meaning over a lifetime, Martians would be exposed to 5,000 times more radiation than someone on Earth.

What could happen if humans lived on Mars for several generations in terms of genetic mutations?

Living on Mars for several generations would expose humans to higher levels of radiation, which could lead to accelerated mutations in DNA. This could result in the evolution of a new human species within a much shorter timeframe—potentially in just a few centuries instead of the millennia it would take on Earth.

What are the potential risks of interaction between Martians and Earthlings in the future?

If Martians and Earthlings were to meet in the future, their immune systems could be vastly different, potentially leading to deadly consequences. This could be similar to historical encounters, such as when European settlers brought diseases like smallpox to Native Americans.

Could Earthlings and Martians successfully reproduce, and why or why not?

It is unlikely that Earthlings and Martians would be able to reproduce together due to the significant genetic differences that could arise from long-term separation and adaptation to different environments. Only closely related species can typically reproduce, making cross-species reproduction between Martians and Earthlings highly improbable.