How to Build a Martian: Human Enhancement for Mars Colonization
Settling on other planets is a task full of challenges the human body is not prepared for
Built by Earth, for Earth
Our bodies are built for life on Earth — and a fairly limited set of environmental conditions on Earth to boot. So, exploring and perhaps long-term living on another planet is not exactly something our frail bodies will find enjoyable. Different gravity, different atmosphere, different radiation exposure…
In a previous article, we looked at using CRISPR to gene-edit the human body so that it would be slightly more suited to space travel. Similar prospects could be explored in terms of settling on another planet. For example, preventing osteoporosis and stimulating muscle growth on lower gravity planets.
Of course, there are options beyond gene-editing to prepare ourselves for life on another planet. Prosthetics, implants, and other technological interventions can enhance the human body so that is a little bit better attuned to the new daunting conditions it will face in its new extraterrestrial home.
The ethics will not be discussed here, but it is worth asking the question whether this is the ethical path forward. Is it worth it? Will this lead…
