Lisa Nip: How humans could evolve to survive in space

How humans could evolve to survive in space

If we hope to one day leave Earth and explore the universe, our bodies are going to have to get a lot better at surviving the harsh conditions of space. Using synthetic biology, Lisa Nip hopes to harness special powers from microbes on Earth -- such as the ability to withstand radiation -- to make humans more fit for exploring space. "We're approaching a time during which we'll have the capacity to decide our own genetic destiny," Nip says. "Augmenting the human body with new abilities is no longer a question of how, but of when."

Human bodies are ill-equipped for the brutal realities of space, where even a year in microgravity weakens bones and muscles. Advances in synthetic biology now let scientists redesign microbes and plants to thrive in alien conditions, and could one day give humans new abilities such as radiation resistance. Instead of relying solely on machines, engineering life itself may be the key to surviving interplanetary journeys and hostile new worlds. As humanity approaches the power to shape its own evolution, it must weigh the promise and peril of rewriting what it means to be human.