The Current How will humans evolve in space?
Apr 1, 2026
Susan Bailey, a radiation cancer biologist studying spaceflight effects, and Scott Solomon, an evolutionary biologist and author on how space reshapes bodies and minds. They explore radiation and molecular changes, surprising telomere findings, bone and muscle loss, neurological and psychological shifts from confinement, and what long Moon or Mars missions could mean for future humans.
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Microgravity Causes Muscle And Bone Weakness
- Space flight causes rapid muscle and bone loss because microgravity removes the need to support body weight.
- Astronauts exercise about two hours daily to counteract muscle weakening and secondary bone weakening on long missions.
Fluid Shift Can Impair Astronaut Vision
- Fluid redistribution in microgravity shifts blood and fluid toward the head, increasing pressure on the eyes.
- That elevated intracranial pressure is linked to vision deterioration reported by astronauts after missions of six months or longer.
Prepare Physically But Expect Unavoidable Space Effects
- Physical fitness helps astronauts adapt but can't fully prepare bodies for microgravity's novel environment.
- Train to optimize baseline strength and resilience but expect physiological changes that only occur in space.
