Biologist Warns Humans on Mars Could “Turn Green and Lose Eyesight”

Colonizing Mars has long been a fantastical vision for human civilization, with scientists exploring the possibility of transforming the Red Planet into a livable habitat. Nonetheless, achieving this dream faces considerable challenges due to Mars’ harsh environmental conditions, which could have profound effects on human physiology.

Experts have pointed out the severe difficulties humans would encounter trying to survive on Mars, given its brutal environment. Dr. Scott Solomon, a biologist from Rice University in Texas, has raised concerns about the potential for significant genetic mutations in humans who might live and reproduce on Mars. These changes could be driven by the planet’s lower gravity and higher levels of radiation compared to Earth.

Mars’ gravity is about 30% less than Earth’s, and the planet lacks both a protective ozone layer and a magnetic field, leaving it exposed to cosmic rays, space radiation, UV, and charged solar particles. Such conditions could accelerate mutation rates drastically, leading to changes like a greenish skin tone, weakened muscles, fragile bones, and deteriorated eyesight, according to Dr. Solomon.

In his book “Future Humans,” Solomon speculates that humans might develop a new type of skin pigment to better cope with high radiation levels, jokingly suggesting the emergence of “our own green men.” Additionally, he warns that the reduced gravity could cause bones to become brittle, potentially leading to complications such as pelvic fractures during childbirth.

Furthermore, Dr. Solomon suggests that eyesight might weaken on Mars due to a decreased need for viewing long distances, as human settlements on the planet would likely be compact. These adaptations, while speculative, highlight the extensive physiological challenges humans face in adapting to life on Mars.