Proxima Centauri b Discovery (August 2016)

• Astronomers discover planet orbiting Proxima Centauri (closest star to our sun)
• Planet appears Earth-like, named Proxima Centauri b
• Mass approximately equal to Earth
• Located in habitable zone of its star

Transportation Technology

• NASA potentially capable of reaching Proxima Centauri b
• Project Orion spaceship technology exists since 1950s
  • Large pogo stick mechanism
  • Propulsion via nuclear bomb explosions behind craft
• Could deliver thousands of human pioneers by end of century

Habitability Challenges (2017 NASA Report)

• Greatest survival challenge mankind has ever faced
• Proxima Centauri is red dwarf star - inherently dangerous
• Planet must orbit 20 times closer to star than Earth-Sun distance
  • Receives 2000 times more solar winds, cosmic rays, ultraviolet rays
• Sun appears large, dark, red in sky
• Constant threat from giant solar flares

Survival Strategies

• Humans must seek underground shelter from radiation
• Establishment of subterranean cities required
• Largely underground civilization necessary

Evolutionary Changes on Proxima b

• Alien environment could transform humans into different species
• Evolution can occur rapidly (not slowly as Darwin assumed)
• Separated colonist populations evolve differently from Earth humans
• Mutations from radiation exposure accelerate evolutionary changes

Physical Adaptations

• Higher gravity (1.3 times Earth mass) effects:
  • Stronger bones and muscles development
• Subterranean living effects:
  • Very pale complexion (no sun exposure)
  • Larger eyes (low light adaptation)
  • Enhanced other senses for dark environment
• Competitive survival environment accelerates natural selection
• Evolution into "mole people" Nova sapiens species

Parallel Evolution on Earth

• Jaw structure becoming smaller due to processed food consumption
• Head/brain size decreasing - brains becoming more efficient
• Technological interface traits becoming more valued
• Physical survival traits (rock lifting, hunting) diminishing
• Interaction with sophisticated technologies prioritized

Future Interplanetary Dynamics

• Nova sapiens hardened by extreme planetary challenges
• Earth images beamed to Proxima b colonists
• Proxima b colonists may view Earth as more desirable
  • No grass on Proxima b
  • Earth's freedom of resources and wealth