New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Scott Solomon, "Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds" (MIT Press, 2026)
Apr 30, 2026
Scott Solomon, evolutionary biologist and Rice University professor, explores how living off Earth could reshape our bodies and minds. He discusses Mars’ environment, challenges of growing food and shielding radiation, reproductive unknowns and accelerated evolution off-world. He also covers microbes, gene editing possibilities, and ethical debates about experimenting with future settlers.
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Martian Settlements Must Be Highly Self-Sufficient
- Mars missions require high self-sufficiency because trips take 6–9 months and launch windows recur only every two years.
- Solomon notes supply, food, medicine, and a 4–22 minute communication delay mandate autonomous capabilities and training.
Plan Plant-Based Food Systems For Mars
- Design Martian diets to be plant-based and maximize efficiency because space and resources are limited.
- Solomon explains animal protein is inefficient: feeding livestock wastes ~90% of solar-derived energy versus direct plant consumption.
Acclimation Is Not The Same As Evolution
- Astronaut bodies acclimate to microgravity, but true evolutionary adaptation requires generations and remains unknown for humans.
- Solomon contrasts short-term physiological adjustments with genetic adaptation seen in bacteria on the ISS over decades.
