Could we have babies in space? | BBC Ideas

Humans will travel to Mars within the next couple of decades, according to Nasa.

The ultimate goal? To live entirely independent of Earth.

But can humans reproduce in space?

Video made in partnership with @bbcideas and The Royal Society.

#SpaceExploration #Mars #BBCNews

[joelharris]

Even if we could, would you really want to? Baby diapers, deep cold, solar radiation, muscle atrophy. I don't think so

[Greenpoloboy]

Positive thinking by Nasa to assume there will still be life on Earth to even travel to Mars in a couple of decades.

[tomzweifel]

People who think humans will inhabit Mars in a meaningful manner don't understand how important a magnetosphere is.

[clairemercer]

Every heard of centrifugal force? We have the ability to mimic gravity in space. As for the planets what about living underground. It is the cheapest and easiest way to protect yourself from cosmic radiation.

[public.public]

ok lets put a pregnant mother about to give birth in a vacuum chamber and find out shall we?

[HarHah]

We're going to Mars to pollute it like earth 🌎 💩

[philliplamoureux]

Look! We haven't even been to the moon for 50 years!!

[princeralfordo]

I love Earth so much, it means the World to me!

[bijoychandraroy]

Umm... how about artificial gravity through centrifugal force?

[menagill]

I believe in phrase " bloom where you are planted".
Make this earth peaceful, liveable and hospitable for each other that you don't need to live on Mars. Those who have money to spend to go to space why can't you spend on earth to help other human or places to grow. You are not helping anyone by doing all that...

[unidentified]

she said it as if children born on earth were asked to consent to be born on earth though.

[silvereagle]

If babies are conceived and go through the full 9 month cycle in zero gravity, their skeletal system would be so week on Earth, they would require some apparatus to aid in supporting themselves. Not for the rest of their lives most likely, but at least until they would be strong enough to be supported without any aid.

[liZou-qllh]

You just have to find the black monolith.

[theziggurat]

The thumbnail looks like a prog rock album cover.

[kayskreed]

The Terrans vs. Martians plotline we see in most military space operas. Correction: Being born in space would be more akin to being born in zero-gravity. Being born on Mars is simply being born on another planet.

[andresyoutube]

It's easy. We can create a big horizontal inclinated floor rotation house for simulate the gravity on earth where and while the baby grow up in it.

[public.public]

Could we have babies in space? | BBC Ideas
Mother and baby would die in seconds.
The vacuum of space is unrelenting.

[keithb-rchf]

On the plus side, in space no one can hear you scream..

[wildandbarefoot]

In space no one will hear them scream at least.
Hmn. Peaceful

[DearProfessorRF]

Who the hell wants to live in a place with only a few colors available in the environment.