As mankind enters space and the high radiation environment permanently he will change. Evolution has developed the human form to deal with specific Earth gravity and typical solar radiation through a thick blanket of ozone. Permanent space dwellers or residents of the moon will experience generational changes. Genes will slowly develop that find a way to diffuse the effects of constant radiation exposure. The cochlear nerve will adjust to differing gravity. Eyes, ears and noses will adjust to their new environments as well and these traits will be passed down to the next generations. Skull size and bone density are determined by existing gravity.
Future humans born and living on places like the moon would find earth a bone crunching experience and will have to wear pressure suits to protect their frail skeletons and weaker muscles. Their heads will change and their skulls will grow larger and thinner. They will grow taller and thinner as their bodies growth is not stifled by the pull of greater gravity on cells.
Yes, future humans from low gravity worlds will look like big headed tall, spindly aliens and will have greater radiation resistance than man does now. Most will be completely hairless as hair does not go well with hard radiation.
Likewise humanity that migrates to higher gravity worlds will grow more compact and stubby. Their bones will get thicker and their muscles much stronger.
Both will find Earth extremely uncomfortable and require pressure suits to visit the old home world - but as the saying goes, "you can't go home again".
As for sex, since you brought it up, you can expect that the reproductive organs will shift inwards to shield from radiation. Eventually males may have similar internal placement as Earth females reproductive organs have. The plus side is they will be able to wear one-size fits all underwear.
How fast any evolution occurs is up to debate. I suspect it probably would take anywhere from 30-250 generations to see these changes fully manifested.
Was that the "sproing" answer you were looking for?
;-)
Space/Science » in reply to Interesting
Human evolution
