Could You Survive on Mars?

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]Before we begin, hit subscribe and join Curiosity Crumbs for more amazing science adventures every week. Mars looks amazing in pictures, huge red deserts, giant volcanoes, frozen ice caps. But if you stepped onto the planet without protection, things would go very badly, very quickly. Mars may look beautiful from space, but for humans, it's one of the most dangerous places imaginable. So, what would actually happen if you tried to live there? Mars is called the red planet because its surface is covered in rusty iron dust.

[00:00:34]That reddish soil stretches across giant deserts, rocky cliffs, and massive canyons. In fact, Mars has the biggest volcano in the entire solar system. It's called Olympus Mons, and it's about three times taller than Mount Everest.

[00:00:49]But even though Mars has incredible landscapes, it's nothing like Earth.

[00:00:53]There are no oceans, no trees, no animals, and almost no breathable air.

[00:00:59]The biggest problem on Mars, there's almost no oxygen. Earth's atmosphere contains about 21% oxygen, which humans need to survive. Mars, only around 0.1%.

[00:01:11]Most of the Martian atmosphere is carbon dioxide. So, if you removed your helmet on Mars, you wouldn't be able to breathe. You would lose consciousness very fast. That's why astronauts would need powerful space suits filled with oxygen and life support systems just to step outside. The suits would also protect them from freezing temperatures and dangerous dust storms. Mars has another dangerous problem. Its atmosphere is extremely thin. The air pressure on Mars is less than 1% of Earth's. That might not sound important, but your body depends on pressure to function properly. Without enough pressure, liquids inside your body could begin to boil. Not like boiling water on a stove, but because the pressure outside your body is so low. That's another reason spacesuits are absolutely necessary. [music] Mars is also freezing cold. The average temperature is around -80° F or -60° C. At night, temperatures can drop even lower. Near the poles, it gets cold enough for carbon dioxide to freeze into dry ice. Scientists believe any future Mars homes would need thick walls, powerful heaters, and underground shelters to stay warm and safe. One of the biggest hidden dangers on Mars is radiation. Earth is protected by a strong magnetic field that helps block harmful radiation from space and the sun. Mars lost most of its magnetic field billions of years ago. That means astronauts on Mars would be exposed to much more radiation every day. Too much radiation can damage the human body and increase the risk of serious diseases.

[00:02:47]That's why scientists are studying special materials and underground habitats that could help shield future astronauts. Even though Mars is dangerous, scientists are already planning ways humans might someday live there. NASA and other space companies are designing future missions to send astronauts to the planet. Researchers are studying how to grow food, make oxygen, and build safe habitats on Mars.

[00:03:11]Some ideas even include using Martian soil to build houses with giant 3D printers. It won't be easy, [music] but one day humans may become an interplanetary species, and Mars could become the first new world we explore up close. Would you ever want to visit Mars? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and explore more amazing science mysteries with Curiosity Crumbs.