Star trekkers to baldly go

Published on Friday 5 June 2009 22:28

HUMANS making long space voyages would never pass the audition for Star Trek as they would be far too ugly, an expert has claimed.

Living in permanent microgravity, the first travellers to the stars are likely to end up short, fat and bald, according to astrobiologist Dr Lewis Dartnell.

Growing up in space would leave humans stunted and cause their bones and muscles to be underdeveloped, he said.

Dr Dartnell, from University College London, added: "Without gravity, fluid would float up to pool in the skull, which would cause the head to look swollen out of proportion."