February 06, 2026

This Week in Space 196: Becoming Martian!

1 hour 3 minutes

It is widely accepted that over time, humanity will need to expand its presence into the solar system. What are the challenges? Well, space and our nearby worlds have proved to be a much greater challenge than we had long thought. While the rigors of zero-g have been well researched on the International Space Station, the challenges of living in lower gravity, such as that found on the moon and Mars, has not yet been explored. And human reproduction in space, along with genetic challenges, is a complete unknown. Rice Univeristy professor and researcher Scott Solomon joins us to explore these topics in depth, and to posit possible solutions.

Headlines:

Artemis 2 Moon Launch Faces More Delays Due to Hydrogen Leaks

Perseverance Rover on Mars Completes First Fully AI-Driven Journey

Study Warns of Urgent Need to Research Human Reproduction in Space

Main Topic: Becoming Martian – What It Would Take for Humans to Thrive on Mars

Biological impacts of space and Martian environments on the human body

Gaps in research about human reproduction, growth, and development in space and partial gravity

Ethical, social, and medical challenges of having children beyond Earth

The complexities of transplanting Earth's ecosystems, microbiomes, and the risk of disruptive species

Evolutionary changes and the likely divergence of human populations living long-term off-Earth

Considerations around modifying humans versus modifying extraterrestrial environments

Infectious disease threats and dwindling biological immunity for space settlers

Psychological, cultural, and population dynamics for future interplanetary communities

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Scott Solomon

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