Mars is smaller than Earth. So much so that Mars’ gravity is less than 40% of Earth’s. While that is beneficial for launching things into orbit and moving mass around, i never see discussions talking place on how this would affect humans physiologically.
In my view, the weaker gravity kills any hope of a Martian settlement project. Even if we could build a sustainable settlement, how long could humans live there before experiencing changes to their bodies. Sure they could stay a year or two and probably be fine. But after 10? The bone density changes would make a return to Earth extremely difficult. God forbid a child was to be born there. Would they grow twice as tall? Would they ever be able to live on Earth?
I have no doubts that humanity could build a research station on Mars. But that’s all it can ever be. A research station where scientists stay for a limited time. A permenent population would rapidly develop into a new species. Even if Mars had a breathable atmosphere the effects of gravity would remain.
Science fiction is not reality. I see a lot of powerful, influential people selling fiction as reality. You are not immune to propaganda.
Humans are well suited to live in a small band of air and a powerful ecosystem - with an atmospheric pressure at sea level of 1 atmosphere, with Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 20.%, Carbon Dioxide ~0.04% (currently ~420 ppm due to human activity). On Earth, natural background radiation is safe for long-term exposure, but on Mars, 240–600 mSv/year exceeds NASA’s 500 mSv lifetime limit for astronauts. Mars habitats require underground shelters or thick shielding to reduce exposure. In addition comes your observation concerning gravity, and there are definitely additional factors that will make life on Mars very hard for humans. A visit may be possible, but to live on a celestial body, or in a spacecraft for half a life time is tough going. Evolution took care that humans are well adapted to our current surroundings, but not to the cruel environment of outer space. Now that everybody is so orgasmic about robotics and AI, I suggest people send robots out there.
Great point, thanks! I would rather live in a generation ship on the way to a habitable planet than as an elongated mole martian!