Mars Has a Fatal Flaw - And No-one Has the Solution (ft. Veritasium)

By the end of the next decade, the first human feet will likely touch down on the dusty red soil of Mars. This is NASA's timeline, and it is by no means unrealistic. And while that first visit might be similar to a stop by in line with the moon landing, some scientists are claiming permanent human colonies could be set up on Mars as early as 2050. That means it could be you alive today and watching this video who is the one who sets out to tame that new frontier.

You'd need to get into a space program pretty sharply if you're not in one already. But it is possible that you'll one day look out of a little bay window and watch as our pale blue dot vanishes into distant space. But as you turn your gaze to your new home, what conditions can you expect to find on Mars? What challenges face any wouldbe Martian colonizer?

What deadly weather will you encounter? What will the red planet throw at you? For unlike our home planet, Mars is a dead world, and anyone hoping to set foot there will need to overcome its daunting challenges with technology that is at the very cutting edge. I'm Alex Mccoan and you're watching Astramm.

Join me and a very special guest today in this super cut on the environment of Mars as we explain both the hostile conditions and exactly what NASA is developing to help future Martians like you to tame those arid rusted wastelands. And stick around till the end of the video for a very special announcement. You don't want to miss [Music] it. Obviously, to colonize Mars, you first have to get there.

The trip itself to Mars would take about 3 months with the most optimal launch conditions. This doesn't seem too excessive. It's like a long voyage on a cruise ship, but you have to consider that you would spend at least 3 months outside the safety of Earth's magnetic field. Out here, you are exposed to the solar wind and cosmic radiation.

Prolonged exposure to this kind of radiation can cause astronauts to develop cancer and even symptoms of Alzheimer's before they reach Mars. Fortunately, there are some thoughts about how to protect against this. The astronauts could be shielded using materials in the ship's construction that are rich in hydrogen. In fact, ...