With NASA's plan to put humans on Mars by 2030, experts say that human bodies may need to be enhanced to make it suitable for colonizing Mars. There might be different aspects to living in mars that are impossible to predict using Earth simulations on the International Space Stations (ISS) and Antarctica.
Konrad Szocik is the lead author of the study that was published journal Space Policy and a cognitive scientist at the University of Information Technology and Management in Poland. He said that they could not stimulate the same physical and environmental conditions to reconstruct the Martian environment. Particularly, traits like the Martian micro gravitation and radiation exposure.
Szocik argued that it may be necessary to modify people's bodies and minds by electronically enhancing the human senses, or by prescribing medication to dull panic and help diminish emotional reactions in moments of crisis.
The focus of discussion of Mars colony is more on the technological and financial challenges of constructing and maintaining a Mars colony. There has been less study of the social aspects that may affect people within the Mars colony.
The Daily Mail reported, Dr. Scott Soloman, evolutionary biologist from the Rice University in Houston said those who stay in Mars may evolve into a separate species. He believes that Martian climate may cause darkening in our skin and our bones may also thicken in order to cope with reduced levels of gravity. These changes may happen within 6,000 years on Mars.
Szocik is also concerned about human problems such as conflicts, wars and reproduction on Mars colony. It would require technological and medical support system and a large enough colony to avoid inbreeding. He has suggested a population of at least 500 adults on the surface according to The Indian Express.
Medical officials should consider how to reduce the mortality rate from disease, possible technological failures and radiation from the Martian environment Szocik said. With these concerns in mind, NASA continues to run a series of experiments in anticipation of its planned 2030 manned mission to Mars.
