BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy Would you do well on Mars?

Fancy starting new life on Mars? This ONE trait will mean you're best suited

Well, the article says that people who sleep longer will adapt better because the Martian day is 37 minutes longer than an Earth day.

"Forget years of training, new research suggests experts should be looking for people who enjoy long sleeps," it says.

I'm a bit skeptical here.

What quality do you have that you think would help you to live on Mars?

I agree with you, Mona. I think settlers to Mars would be exhausted at the end of their work shift that they would be happy to have the extra 37 minutes. I think people would get used to it and not only that, I do not think we all have the 24 hour mode. We might be disordered for awhile but I think we would adapt.

Yes, Angie, I think the day length would be - if a problem at all - a minor one compared with, for example, . . .

(1) lack of sunlight. Mars is farther away from the Sun, and it's not as though you'd get much sunlight through a space suit.
(2) lack of oxygen. A serious problem not being able to breathe except in enclosed spaces where oxygen could be generated.
(3) dangerous radiation. Mars doesn't have a magnetic field to deflect dangerous particles in the solar wind.

I don't think I have qualities that would help me live on Mars. Except that I wouldn't mind having the extra 37 minutes in a day. Don't think I'd spend them sleeping.

Absolutely right, Mona. With the extra 37 minutes though you probably wouldn't have all the things you would normally do at home here on Earth.

Pioneering is exciting but very difficult.

I don't think I have any really useful pioneering skills. But if required to go to Mars, I know what I'd want to take with me - Mark Watney!