EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 1H 2M
#92 Humans on Mars Will Become a NEW Species - Mars Biologist Dr Scott Solomon
from Watson-Howland
Please double check you're subscribed, thank you❤️ Mars Biologist Dr Scott Solomon Reveals Why A Child Born On Mars May Never Come Home To Earth, How We've Already Created Alien Life In Space, And The One Thing That Decides If We Survive On Mars That No One Is Funding.Please double check you're subscribed, thank you❤️Mars biologist Dr Scott Solomon has spent over a decade studying what will physically happen to the first humans who leave Earth, and he says we're rushing toward Mars while ignoring the questions that matter most. He reveals why a child raised in one-third gravity may have a skeleton that Earth's gravity would crush if they ever returned, why bacteria found on the International Space Station are no longer known to exist on Earth, and why human reproduction, the single biggest obstacle to colonising Mars, is the one thing almost no one will fund.Dr Scott Solomon is an evolutionary biologist at Rice University, a Smithsonian Research Associate, and the author of 'Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds'. His work explores human evolution and where our species is heading next.In this conversation, Scott and Jacob discuss:Why a child born on Mars may never be able to survive a trip back to EarthHow bacteria on the Space Station may already have evolved into the first 'aliens'Why a Mars-born immune system could be killed by Earth's everyday germsHow Mars radiation could accelerate human evolution into a new speciesWhy NASA won't fund the research that decides if we can colonise Mars00:00 Introduction to Space Exploration and Public Awareness03:05 The Journey from Ants to Mars: Scott's Evolutionary Insights06:00 Microbial Life: The Unseen Companions of Space Travel09:10 The Challenges of Martian Immunity and Health11:50 Physical Compromises of Living on Mars14:50 The Future of Human Reproduction in Space28:56 The Overlooked Challenge of Reproduction on Mars31:28 Research and Ethical Considerations in Space Reproduction35:09 The Role of Microbes and Artificial Gravity37:04 Radiation Risks and Natural Selection on Mars43:39 Speculative Evolution: Adaptations for Martian Life48:24 Defining Species: The Future of Martian Humans52:56 Sovereignty and Identity: The Martian State55:36 Timelines for Mars Colonization and Ethical ConcernsYou can purchase Scott's book, 'Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds', here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Becoming-Martian-Future-Beyond-Earth/dp/0262051516Follow Scott: Website – https://solomon.rice.eduFollow Jacob: YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@watsonhowland Website – https://www.jacobwatsonhowland.com Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0r4v5xgyYz0rTFSLklk0Em Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/watson-howland/id1813625992
Embed this episode
NOW PLAYING
#92 Humans on Mars Will Become a NEW Species - Mars Biologist Dr Scott Solomon
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.