Christopher E. Mason

The Next 500 Years
Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds
by Christopher E. Mason
MIT Press
This book gives the reader an inside look in why we need to think ahead about moving beyond Earth and how to go about it. All of which depends on science, lots and lots of science! It starts with how the human body changes and it's need for protection in space. It reviews the NASA Twin Study with the Kelly brothers which I found fascinating! (I want to read more on them.)
The book also discusses various ways to protect with substances from water bears injected into cells. The CRISPR projects and genome variations are also discussed in depth and in detail. I have a health background and I had to look up a several things to refresh my memory!
The book gives an outline from fairly recent to far reaching goals for humans and animals to survive in the long run. To do this it will need to be started now and biological or genome manipulation will probably be a matter of when and not if.
I found this book fascinating and informative but I wish it was slightly less scientific-speak so more people could enjoy it and learn from it. A layman's term book would probably sell more too!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read the book!… (més)