Humans will live in cities on Mars within 50 to 100 years, but it will be a 'really s**it place to be', according to physicist Brian Cox.

Speaking to MailOnline, the scientists from Oldham said that despite its difficulties, moving to hellish planets such as Mars may be inevitable if we're to survive.

Professor Cox, best known for presenting Stargazing Live and Wonders of the Universe, says he's confident we'll land on red planet within a decade.

But he says we should not get too excited as it is little more than a 'barren rock', which pales in comparison to our 'wonderful, beautiful' planet.

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Professor Brian Cox is less than enthusiastic about Martian life: 'Mars will be a really s**t place to be. It's a barren rock!', he told MailOnline

LIFE ON MARS Researchers from the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, Poland believe we may have to take more drastic steps - including modifications to the body and mind - if we are ever to succeed in visiting our inhospitable neighbour. The unique environment could force rapid evolutionary changes creating a whole new species, experts claim. Electronic devices to enhance the senses and drugs to dull panic and other emotional responses may be needed to successfully complete the trip to Mars. Any humans who choose to stay and colonise the planet will be faced with other challenges, including the risk of inbreeding. Colonists may quickly - in scientific terms - evolve into a separate species, with darker skin and thickened bones. Advertisement

Professor Cox, who has just published 'Universal: A Journey Through The Cosmos' with Manchester University physicist Professor Jeff Forshaw, told MailOnline that 'in the very near future' we will be a civilisation stretched across many planets.

Mars may the first world we colonise - perhaps out of necessity rather than choice - but life there would be bleak.

''Mars will be a really s**t place to be. It's a barren rock!', said Professor Cox.

Professor Cox has previously compared Earth explorers of the red planet to 'Pilgrims sailing to the New World' who will be exposed to high levels of radiation.

He believes individuals in their teens could be the first to live on Mars, with families following in a few generations time, commenting that life will initially be very difficult.

Research by Polish scientists earlier this year found that colonists may even evolve into a separate species.

The would develop darker skin through eating foods like bright yellow and orange goods like squash and carrots which contain carotenoid pigments.

Human bones may also thicken to cope with reduced levels of gravity.

Martian civilisations will be hit with around six times the amount of radiation that we have on Earth and a population of 500 people would be needed to establish a large enough colony to avoid inbreeding.

Pictured is an artist's impression of life on Mars. Professor Cox believes colonising the planet will happen in the next 50 or 100 year

Although Professor Cox might not want to move to Mars himself, he believes we may not have a choice in the future.

Moving to Mars, he says, it is important for our species if our efforts to save life on Earth fail.

He has previously said that climate change, asteroids and artificial intelligence threaten our continued existence on Earth.

'They're trying to make us a multi-planet species which raises prosperity and also increases our chances of survival', he said.

Professor Cox believes Elon Musk is leading efforts in this area.

Musk, the SpaceX billionaire has ambitious plans to establish humanity's first colony on Mars within our lifetime and wants to create the first 'Interplanetary Transport System'.

The entrepreneur aims to get the price down of the ticket down to the cost of an average house in the US - or around $200,000 (£157,000).

'Musk wants to land human beings on Mars in a decade and that's a first step in colonising the planet of course which would happen in 50 or 100 years in the future if all goes well - that's what I would imagine', Professor Cox said.

Professor Brian Cox (left), who has just published 'Universal: A Journey Through The Cosmos' with Manchester University physicist Professor Jeff Forshaw (right) told Mailonline that 'in the very near future' we will be a civilisation stretched across many planets

Professor Cox and Professor Forshaw say that politicians should start thinking more like scientists.

'What the book tries to argue is the fact that the future of human civilisation comes from rational human thought that's the most important thing we can do', Professor Forshaw said.

He noted that talking about the future of our civilisation is all reliant on the fact we are able to think clearly about how the universe works and value nature and discovery.

The pair have just published 'Universal: A Journey Through The Cosmos' with Penguin

'We can get to the bottom of things but you've got to be rigorous with dates and really be prepared to accept you are wrong', said Professor Forshaw.

'Understanding the universe is a brilliant demonstration of how far you can get when you take tiny steps', he said.

'We're all on one planet but we don't have to compete on this planet', said Professor Cox.

'That's what's exciting for the next generation of rockets is they're opening up a new frontier and every time you open up a new frontier our civilisation is all the better for that.

Elon Musk says that SpaceX will target Mars for colonisation over other planets in the solar system as it is the most similar to Earth.

'Musk has stated he wants to potentially begin the colonisation of Mars within the decade and you think well that's crazy but then everything Elon Musk has said he'd do he's done', said Professor Cox.

'He has re-usable rockets that go to the space station and come back which has cut the cost of launching things into space by 90 per cent or more.

'Jeff Bezos is another one who has a rocket company and they are some of the most powerful and successful entrepreneurs in the world', he said.

The pair also said that politicians should start thinking more like scientists.

'What the book tries to argue is the fact that the future of human civilisation comes from rational human thought that's the most important thing we can do', Professor Forshaw said.

He noted that talking about the future of our civilisation is all reliant on the fact we are able to think clearly about how the universe works and value nature and discovery.

'That's the message of the book', Professor Forshaw said.