Space Radiation Dooms Elon’s Mission to Mars but May Hack the Brain and Fix Depression

Sorry, Elon, space travel ain't going to be that simple! There is a growing body of scientific research that indisputably demonstrates the capacity of ionizing radiation to alter the activity of mammalian brain circuits. Unfortunately for the mission to Mars that you are planning, the ubiquitous radiation present throughout interplanetary space is destined to mess with human brain function, and by virtue of such, defeat even the best-engineered rockets and spaceships. Before you make too many more plans for a trip to Mars, it might be a good time to go back to the drawing board and solve this critical human biological reality? Yet still there is reason to celebrate this biological phenomenon; when harnessed correctly, space-like radiation will soon be used here on Earth to treat many common brain disorders, such as depression and addiction, which have plagued us humans through the ages.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92475
Primary Topic
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Space Radiation Dooms Elon’s Mission to Mars but May Hack the Brain and Fix Depression

John R. Adler
Cureus
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
article

Space Radiation Dooms Elon’s Mission to Mars but May Hack the Brain and Fix Depression

John R. Adler
article en

Abstract

Sorry, Elon, space travel ain't going to be that simple! There is a growing body of scientific research that indisputably demonstrates the capacity of ionizing radiation to alter the activity of mammalian brain circuits. Unfortunately for the mission to Mars that you are planning, the ubiquitous radiation present throughout interplanetary space is destined to mess with human brain function, and by virtue of such, defeat even the best-engineered rockets and spaceships. Before you make too many more plans for a trip to Mars, it might be a good time to go back to the drawing board and solve this critical human biological reality? Yet still there is reason to celebrate this biological phenomenon; when harnessed correctly, space-like radiation will soon be used here on Earth to treat many common brain disorders, such as depression and addiction, which have plagued us humans through the ages.

CureusVol. 17(9)
Stanford Medicine (US), Stanford University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 83%
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
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