In recent years, the dream of stepping onto Mars has shifted away from science fiction and into a serious scientific and cultural pursuit. But despite the immense resources being thrown into this venture, the greatest barrier is not technology alone: it is the vulnerability of the human body.
Space travel reshapes the human physiology in ways that are unpredictable. It can cause damage to bones, muscles, and even the brain, all while exposing astronauts to isolation and dangerous levels of radiation. These risks make Mars' colonization a question not only of rockets and engineering, but of medicine itself.
Can medical science help humans one day live on Mars? Click on to find out.