Zach Weinersmith

So there's a sci-fi fantasy that, as an astrophysicist and a Trekkie, I've been watching percolate all my life. And in the last decade, it feels like it's become more than fantasy.

So there's a sci-fi fantasy that, as an astrophysicist and a Trekkie, I've been watching percolate all my life. And in the last decade, it feels like it's become more than fantasy.

So there's a sci-fi fantasy that, as an astrophysicist and a Trekkie, I've been watching percolate all my life. And in the last decade, it feels like it's become more than fantasy.

But I've always wondered, what would a space colony actually look like?

But I've always wondered, what would a space colony actually look like?

But I've always wondered, what would a space colony actually look like?

She's a biologist and science writer. And she and her partner, Zach Wienersmith, spent four years researching space settlement for a book called City on Mars. And in it, they get into everything it would take to do this. They talk about the key real estate.

She's a biologist and science writer. And she and her partner, Zach Wienersmith, spent four years researching space settlement for a book called City on Mars. And in it, they get into everything it would take to do this. They talk about the key real estate.

She's a biologist and science writer. And she and her partner, Zach Wienersmith, spent four years researching space settlement for a book called City on Mars. And in it, they get into everything it would take to do this. They talk about the key real estate.

So today on the show, we do a little thought experiment. What would it really take for humans to live in space, and specifically on Mars? Can we do it in our lifetimes? And more importantly, should we? I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

So today on the show, we do a little thought experiment. What would it really take for humans to live in space, and specifically on Mars? Can we do it in our lifetimes? And more importantly, should we? I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

So today on the show, we do a little thought experiment. What would it really take for humans to live in space, and specifically on Mars? Can we do it in our lifetimes? And more importantly, should we? I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

Okay, so it feels like people's settlement obsession is mostly focused on Mars. Why is Mars the big candidate?

Okay, so it feels like people's settlement obsession is mostly focused on Mars. Why is Mars the big candidate?

Okay, so it feels like people's settlement obsession is mostly focused on Mars. Why is Mars the big candidate?

Okay, let's start with the first hurdle, which is like keeping people alive in space for a significant amount of time. The longest someone has been in space is like just over a year. That's not a lot of data for us to have for long-term effects of people in space. What do we know about the dangers of living outside of Earth's protective magnetic field, like on the human body?

Okay, let's start with the first hurdle, which is like keeping people alive in space for a significant amount of time. The longest someone has been in space is like just over a year. That's not a lot of data for us to have for long-term effects of people in space. What do we know about the dangers of living outside of Earth's protective magnetic field, like on the human body?

Okay, let's start with the first hurdle, which is like keeping people alive in space for a significant amount of time. The longest someone has been in space is like just over a year. That's not a lot of data for us to have for long-term effects of people in space. What do we know about the dangers of living outside of Earth's protective magnetic field, like on the human body?

Right. But this is, you know, a different acceleration due to gravity in space. orbit versus on Mars.

Right. But this is, you know, a different acceleration due to gravity in space. orbit versus on Mars.