Today, Explained: Living on Mars
Host: Sean Robins & Noel King
Guest: Adam Becker
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network
Introduction
In the "Living on Mars" episode of Today, Explained, hosts Sean Robins and Noel King delve into the ambitious and contentious topic of human settlement on Mars. Featuring insights from biologist Kelly Wienersmith and journalist-astrophysicist Adam Becker, the discussion navigates the scientific, economic, psychological, and political dimensions of establishing a human presence on the Red Planet.
Public Perspectives on Mars Colonization
Street Interviews: The episode opens with Sean Robins interviewing passersby outside the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., about their willingness to live on Mars.
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Kelly Wienersmith (Biologist): “No, I wouldn't want to live on Mars. No. I just think simply, it's just too dangerous.” [00:08]
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Adam Becker (Journalist & Astrophysicist): “No, I would miss my family.” [00:27]
These initial responses highlight common concerns regarding the risks and personal sacrifices associated with extraterrestrial life.
The Visionaries: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos
Kelly Wienersmith: Discusses the differing visions of tech magnates Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos for Mars and space colonization.
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Elon Musk's Vision: Aims for a self-sustaining settlement on Mars as a backup for humanity. Musk has projected timelines as ambitious as sending humans to Mars by 2029.
- Wienersmith: “Elon Musk wants a self-sustaining settlement… a backup for humanity.” [02:24]
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Jeff Bezos's Vision: Focuses on relocating heavy industry to space and expanding the human population beyond Earth to prevent resource depletion.
- Wienersmith: “Jeff Bezos wants us to move heavy industry to space to save Earth and move population from Earth to space.” [02:40]
Adam Becker's Critique: Becker is critical of the feasibility and motivations behind these billionaire-led initiatives.
- Becker: “Mars is a horrible idea. Mars is a terrible place.” [15:27]
He challenges the practicality of sustaining life on Mars and questions the billionaire entrepreneurs' assumptions and timelines.
Challenges of Living on Mars
Physical Risks:
- Journey Duration: Current technology dictates a 6-9 month trip to Mars.
- Space Radiation Exposure: Limited shielding increases the risk of radiation-related health issues.
- Wienersmith: “During this trip, you're going to be exposed to space radiation… it could be not just a dangerous trip, but also a trip where your body is sort of breaking down.” [04:29]
Habitat Conditions:
- Living Underground: Due to high radiation and thin atmosphere, settlers would reside in subterranean bunkers.
- Atmospheric Composition: Mars has only 1% of Earth's atmosphere, making surface exposure lethal.
- Wienersmith: “You can't step outside… the nitrogen would bubble out of your blood and kill you.” [05:05]
Sustainability:
- Subsistence Farming & Recycling: Ensuring a sustainable food and resource supply is paramount but challenging.
- Wienersmith: “A lot of the day is going to be spent on things like subsistence farming… and probably a lot of exercise.” [05:05]
Psychological Impacts
Isolation and Mental Health:
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Communication Delays: With delays ranging from 3 to 22 minutes, real-time support from Earth is impossible.
- Wienersmith: “All of your support needs to be self-contained… you'll want to bring Netflix if you can.” [07:10]
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Psychological Support: The necessity of including psychological services within the settlement to address isolation and mental well-being.
Terraforming Mars: Feasibility and Ethics
Potential Methods:
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Fast Approach: Proposes deploying thermonuclear weapons on the poles to release trapped water vapor, gradually warming the planet.
- Wienersmith: “Most of the proposals involve dropping nuclear weapons on the poles… it could take decades, maybe hundreds of years.” [08:07]
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Slow Approach: Gradual modification of the Martian environment through sustainable technologies.
Ethical and Legal Concerns:
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International Consensus: Terraforming efforts would require global agreement, which is currently lacking.
- Wienersmith: “Space belongs to all of humanity. You should probably get the whole international community to give that activity the thumbs up.” [08:38]
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Potential for Conflict: Without clear international laws, competition over Martian territory could escalate into conflict.
- Becker: “It looks like this new space race is going to be between the United States and China.” [09:17]
International Law and Governance in Space
Current Legal Framework:
- No Sovereignty Claims: Nations or corporations cannot claim sovereignty over celestial bodies.
- Wienersmith: “You can't claim sovereignty over anything in space.” [09:42]
Governance Challenges:
- Jurisdiction Issues: The country or corporation that establishes a presence governs their settlers, potentially leading to geopolitical tensions.
- Wienersmith: “If Elon Musk, through SpaceX, sends a bunch of United States citizens… the United States would be in charge.” [09:17]
Contrasting Visions for Space Futures
Adam Becker's Perspective: Becker argues for focusing on Earth's sustainability rather than escaping to a hostile Mars.
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Sustainability on Earth: Advocates for better resource management and sustainable living on our home planet.
- Becker: “We have to save ourselves… everything about Earth is so well suited for us.” [24:09]
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Critique of Billionaire Agendas: Views Musk and Bezos's plans as self-serving rather than altruistic.
- Becker: “If we find a planet around another star… We're not going. It’s not happening.” [24:09]
Kelly Wienersmith's Counterpoint: While acknowledging the challenges, Wienersmith sees Mars as a unique opportunity due to its resources and day-night cycle.
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Resource Availability: Mars possesses essential elements like oxygen, carbon, and water, albeit in challenging forms.
- Wienersmith: “Mars has a day and night cycle that's pretty close to Earth… it has a lot of the building blocks that we're going to need to live.” [06:19]
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Strategic Importance: Establishing a presence on Mars could serve as a contingency for humanity’s long-term survival.
- Wienersmith: “We need a backup for humanity.” [02:24]
Science Fiction and Reality
Inspiration vs. Reality: The discussion touches on how science fiction shapes and contrasts with real-world space initiatives.
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Adam Becker: Emphasizes that while science fiction inspires, it does not offer practical blueprints.
- Becker: “Science fiction is not a guide to the future… we tell those stories not to predict the future but to explore questions about being human.” [19:17]
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Ursula Le Guin’s Insight: Highlights that science fiction explores human narratives rather than technological inevitabilities.
- Becker: Quoting Ursula Le Guin, “science fiction is not a guide to the future and that science fiction authors are not good guides to the future.” [19:27]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a nuanced debate on whether humanity should pursue Mars colonization amidst existing challenges and differing visions. While Kelly Wienersmith underscores the potential resources and strategic benefits of Mars, Adam Becker cautions against the impracticality and ethical dilemmas posed by billionaire-led colonization efforts. The conversation ultimately raises critical questions about humanity’s future—whether it lies in boldly expanding into space or in diligently preserving and improving our home planet.
Notable Quotes
- Kelly Wienersmith: “No, I wouldn't want to live on Mars. No. I just think simply, it's just too dangerous.” [00:08]
- Adam Becker: “Mars is a horrible idea. Mars is a terrible place.” [15:27]
- Kelly Wienersmith: “You can't step outside… the nitrogen would bubble out of your blood and kill you.” [05:05]
- Adam Becker: “We have to save ourselves… Everything about this biosphere… It is everything about this biosphere.” [24:09]
Further Listening
For more insights into the challenges and opportunities of space colonization, consider exploring Vox's Future Perfect team productions and Adam Becker’s thought-provoking works on technology and society.