Green-Skinned Babies and More? Musk’s Mars Dream Just Got Freaky!

Elon Musk’s dream of a self-sustaining colony on Mars by 2050 is no secret. But this ambitious vision has sparked warnings from experts who suggest the billionaire’s plan might have unintended and dangerous consequences for humanity.

Recent discussions reveal that Musk’s Martian colonization project could lead to drastic and possibly harmful changes to human evolution. Scott Solomon, a biologist, has voiced concerns that life on Mars might fundamentally alter the human body. “Science fiction has often portrayed Martians or aliens coming from Mars as being tall and lanky and thin,” Solomon explains, pointing to possible evolutionary changes that could occur under Mars’ unique environmental conditions.

The high levels of radiation on Mars, due to the lack of a global magnetic field and a protective ozone layer, could push human bodies to adapt in unexpected ways. Solomon theorizes that new skin pigments may evolve to protect colonizers from harsh radiation. “Perhaps in the face of this high radiation, we might evolve some new type of skin pigment to help us deal with that radiation. Maybe we get our own green men,” he adds. This unsettling image of future Martian settlers highlights the gravity of the challenges humans would face in such an extreme environment.

Life on Mars wouldn’t just affect skin color, though. Dr. Solomon predicts that Martian settlers, particularly children born on the red planet, could undergo significant physical changes. These children could develop “brittle bones,” “weaker muscles,” and possibly even “freakishly green coloring” due to the planet’s reduced gravity and harsher living conditions. Mars, being roughly half the size of Earth with only 38% of Earth’s gravity, presents a unique challenge for the human body, which has evolved over millennia in Earth’s gravitational pull.

In his book Future Humans, Solomon also explores how radiation exposure could accelerate mutations in humans, leading to potential long-term consequences. The absence of an ozone layer on Mars would mean settlers are constantly exposed to space radiation and UV light, creating a scenario where future Martian humans might not only look drastically different from Earthlings but also suffer from weakened eyesight. With settlers likely confined to small, enclosed habitats, Solomon suggests they might not need to see long distances, leading to increased near-sightedness.

Further concerns about Mars colonization come from scientists Eneko Axpe and Eric Appel. They warn that extended time in space could have dire effects on astronauts’ health, particularly regarding bone density. Due to the “weightlessness” experienced in space, it’s predicted that astronauts could develop osteoporosis during the long journey to Mars, which could take up to 1,000 days. Appel raises the question, “Can people even make it, or will they be jello by the time they get there?”

While these scientific warnings may cast doubt on Musk’s plans, the tech mogul remains undeterred. Recently, Musk shared updates about his timeline for Mars missions, reaffirming his commitment to making humans a “multi-planet species.” Musk envisions sending an uncrewed spaceship to Mars within the next two years as a trial run. If successful, he plans to launch crewed missions in the following four years with the ultimate goal of building a city on Mars within two decades.

In a tweet on September 7, Musk confidently stated: “The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens. These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years.” He continued, “Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years.”

The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.

These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years.

Flight rate will… https://t.co/ZuiM00dpe9

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2024

Musk’s motivation stems from a belief that becoming multiplanetary is crucial for the survival of human consciousness. By spreading humanity across planets, he argues, we ensure that civilization is no longer tied to just one celestial body, thus increasing our chances of survival in the long term. “Being multiplanetary will vastly increase the probable lifespan of consciousness, as we will no longer have all our eggs, literally and metabolically, on one planet,” he tweeted.

While the idea of living on Mars is thrilling, the warnings from experts highlight the serious physical and ethical challenges that must be addressed. The road to becoming a multiplanetary species may be filled with unforeseen complications, but for Musk, the potential rewards outweigh the risks. Whether or not humanity will adapt to life on Mars—or survive the journey there—remains to be seen.