By Samson Williams and Yasmine Silva
Human exploration of Mars has long been heralded as the next great frontier, the seemingly next logical step in humanity’s expansion beyond Earth. From Wernher von Braun’s early conceptual missions to Elon Musk’s grand visions of a self-sustaining colony, Mars has captivated scientists, engineers, and dreamers alike. Yet, beneath the grandiose rhetoric lies an inconvenient biological truth: human infants require tummy time—a developmental process that is impossible in low gravity environments. The absence of sufficient gravity on Mars (0.38g) poses a fundamental barrier to human reproduction and maturation, making the idea of permanent settlement biologically unsound.
Instead of channeling vast amounts of resources into a futile attempt at Martian “colonization”, humanity would be far better served by investing in technologies that actually push the limits of space exploration: wormhole development, faster-than-light (FTL) travel, and autonomous AI probes capable of traversing the galaxy.
The Biological Reality of Tummy Time and Gravity Dependence
Tummy time is an essential aspect of early childhood development. It refers to the period when infants, placed on their stomachs while awake, develop the muscular and neurological strength to lift their heads, roll over, and eventually crawl. This process is not just about movement; it is a critical phase in neurological development, sensory integration, and the establishment of vestibular balance—functions that are inherently tied to Earth’s 1g gravitational environment.
Several studies in space medicine, particularly from NASA’s research on long-duration spaceflight, have demonstrated the degenerative effects of microgravity on the human body. Muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and fluid redistribution all occur even in fully developed adults, despite countermeasures such as resistance training. Infants, who lack even the basic muscular control to support their own heads, would face even greater developmental hurdles in a low-gravity environment.
- Bone and Muscle Development: The human skeletal and muscular systems rely on gravity to provide necessary stress for growth. Infants in a 0.38g Martian environment would not experience the same biomechanical forces required for normal bone ossification and muscle strengthening.
- Vestibular System Formation: The inner ear's development is dependent on consistent gravitational signals. Martian-born humans would likely suffer from chronic disorientation, leading to severe motor and balance deficiencies.
- Circulatory System Challenges: The redistribution of bodily fluids seen in microgravity environments leads to puffy faces and weakened cardiovascular systems in astronauts. For infants, who are still developing these systems, the consequences could be dire.
No amount of exercise regimens or artificial stimuli can replace the fundamental force of gravity that has shaped human biology over millions of years. A Martian colony may be habitable for adult visitors, but a multi-generational civilization would be impossible without Earth-like gravity. The concept of humanity “thriving” on Mars is not just an engineering challenge—it is a biological impossibility.
The Economic and Technological Opportunity Cost of Mars Colonization
Establishing a permanent human Mars outpost would require an unprecedented economic investment, one that competes directly with more viable and transformative space technologies. The cost estimates for human settlement vary widely, but even the conservative figures place initial investments in the range of $3T to $8T trillion dollars. Roughly the same costs as the US’ War in Afghanistan for about the same results. These funds would be better allocated toward technologies that can yield greater returns in both scientific discovery and practical application.
1. Wormhole Research and Faster-Than-Light (FTL) Travel
If humanity is serious about long-term space expansion, it must move beyond the confines of the solar system. Current propulsion methods—chemical rockets, ion drives, and even nuclear propulsion—are fundamentally inadequate for interstellar travel. Instead, investment should be directed toward:
- Alcubierre Warp Drives: A concept rooted in Einstein’s field equations, which posits that space-time can be manipulated to allow faster-than-light travel without violating relativity.
- Quantum Entanglement Communication: A means to bypass the speed-of-light barrier in information transmission, which could allow for real-time interstellar operations.
- Wormhole Stabilization: Research into traversable wormholes as theorized in general relativity would fundamentally change space exploration.
Instead of sending humans to Mars—a planetary cul-de-sac in terms of long-term settlement—resources should be funneled into theoretical and experimental physics to open the entire galaxy to exploration.
2. AI and Robotics for Interstellar Probes
Human presence in space should not be the priority—knowledge acquisition should. AI and robotics have already proven themselves superior to humans in hostile environments. The Mars rovers, Voyager probes, and upcoming Europa Clipper mission all demonstrate the efficiency of autonomous systems. Future investments should focus on:
- Near-Light Speed Probes: Concepts like the Breakthrough Starshot initiative propose sending ultra-light probes propelled by lasers at 20% the speed of light to nearby exoplanets.
- Self-Replicating Machines: AI-driven probes that can harvest local materials to construct new versions of themselves, exponentially increasing our reach into space.
- Quantum AI for Exploration: AI systems trained to operate in deep space environments, making independent scientific discoveries without the need for human intervention.
Conclusion: A Hard Pivot Away from Mars
The romanticism of human habitation on Mars must be set aside in favor of hard scientific and economic realities. Humanity cannot sustain a civilization without full gravity, and no amount of innovation will allow infants to develop normally in a 0.38g environment. Rather than a trillion-dollar death trap for future generations, Mars should remain a research station—an outpost for scientific inquiry rather than a false utopia for colonization.
Instead, we should be accelerating research into breakthrough propulsion, wormholes, and AI-driven exploration. The true future of space travel does not lie on the surface of a dusty, radiation-baked wasteland but in technologies that unlock the vastness of the cosmos itself.
Our destiny is not to settle for Mars—it is to explore the universe.
PS - Humanity must also achieve biological immortality to conquer space. Otherwise the distances are simply too far. Investing in curing immortality is the next logical step in advancing Humanity into a two-galaxy space faring species.
About The Authors
Yasmine Silva is an architecture student at Arizona State University minoring in Spanish language studies. When she is not developing an architectural model or developing a minimum viable infrastructure plan to get humans to the Moon, she is a professional mariachi. Yasmine is a creative visionary at her core, and her passion for the human experience translates to her passion for architectural and aerospace design. This connection with humanity’s humanity allows her to capture the feelings humans want to have when entering a space on Earth or beyond.
Samson Williams retired from being an international figure and thought leader on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and space economics and now is preparing for the social roller-coaster of the 2030s at Nojo Farm, his pecan farm in South Carolina. For business inquiries please do not reach out to him. Instead, feel free to enroll in one of his classes at UNH School of Law or Columbia University and remember the reason chickens come home to roost.