Mars colonization: cancer risk is much higher than expected
The dream of sending a Terran to Mars is old, but only now has this possibility been discussed with increasing chances of being realized. In addition to all the technology involved, one of the biggest problems for scientists is regarding the health of visitors - or even new residents - from the Red Planet.
Earth has a layer called the magnetosphere that naturally impedes or decreases the intensity of cosmic rays. Thus, not only does life prosper, but the incidence of cancer is not as intense as it could be. These rays, coming mainly from the sun with its storms and even from the Milky Way corners, are highly penetrating and harmful to the human body.
NASA is trying to develop technologies that prevent this radiation from going beyond travelers '/ colinizers' uniforms, but this has become one of the biggest challenges with this trip. In the case of colonies, not only the costumes would need this protective layer, but all the structures built on the planet.
Faster and bigger
A new study by the University of Nevada showed that cancer risk is twice as high as we anticipated. Previously, we believed that radiation could enter cell DNA and cause mutations that lead to the appearance of tumors, but the hole is even lower.
It turns out that even cells that remained healthy after radiation exposure would also eventually be influenced by their affected neighbors and would undergo secondary mutations, aggravating and accelerating the cancerous process. “We learned that damaged cells send signals to surrounding and unaffected cells and probably modify tissue microenvironments. These signals appear to inspire healthy cells to mutate, causing additional tumors or cancers, ”said Francis Cucinotta, the lead researcher.
The Mars Curiosity spacecraft showed that the incidence of radiation on Mars could be up to 1, 000 times higher than on Earth, worrying about plans for possible colonization. To date, missions in orbit have never been so extensive - trips to the Red Planet would require at least 3 years of space experience, but to date, the maximum we have stayed in has been almost a year, in the case of astronaut Scott Kelly who stayed 340 days. at the International Space Station.
