Humans may 'turn green and lose eyesight' while living on Mars, warns biologist

For human civilisations, creating a home on Mars has been a far-fetched dream as scientists hope to make the Red Planet a habitat for humans in the future.

However, this dream appears difficult to achieve in the wake of brutal conditions on the planet, which experts warn can change the colour of humans and weaken their eyesight.

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According to experts, humans will find it extremely difficult to survive on Mars amid the harsh conditions.

Experts warn of drastic mutations in humans on Mars

According to biologist Dr Scott Solomon, who is from Rice University in Texas, if human settlers on Mars give birth to children, the latter are likely to undergo various drastic mutations and evolutionary changes.

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These mutations can occur because of low gravitation forces and high radiation and can result in green skin tone, weak muscles, poor eyesight and brittle bones, he said.

In comparison to Earth, Mars is a smaller planet and has 30 per cent less gravity than our planet.

There is also a lack of a protective ozone layer and magnetic field on the red planet, which exposes the planet to space radiation, cosmic rays, UV and charged particles released from the sun.

This kind of environment has led to the mutation of humans at extreme rates so that they can cope with the new conditions.

Dr Solomon explained that this can lead to changes in skin colour, which can help in coping with radiation.

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“Perhaps in the face of this high radiation, we might evolve some new type of skin pigment to help us deal with that radiation,” explained Solomon in his book,Future Humans.“Maybe we get our own green men," he added.

He further said that lack of gravity can cause bones to turn brittle, which can break the pelvises of women during childbirth.

He said that eyesight can get weaker because there will be a decline in the need to look at far distances in the wake of humans living together in small enclaves.

(With inputs from agencies)