Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds

Dr. Scott Solomon is Director of the Center for Science Communication and Public Engagement and Teaching Professor in BioSciences at Rice University.

As commercial space travel accelerates and plans for long-term human settlement beyond Earth move closer to reality, questions once confined to science fiction are becoming matters of scientific and policy relevance. We are on the cusp of a golden age of space travel in which, for the first time, it will be possible for large numbers of people to venture into space. But what happens to the human body and mind in the extreme conditions of space? What should space travelers expect during journeys to orbiting space stations, the Moon, or Mars — and what are the longer-term implications if some choose to stay? These questions extend even further when considering future generations: What would happen to children born on another planet, and how might life beyond Earth shape human evolution? Scott Solomon, an evolutionary biologist, professor, and science communicator will discuss his new book “Becoming Martian” (MIT Press), which explores how humanity’s migration into space could reshape human biology and minds. Drawing on research from biology, genetics, and space science, Solomon examines the potential physical, psychological, and evolutionary consequences of sustained life in space.