Researchers are working on developing a synthetic lichen system, which could help in the autonomous construction of structures on Mars.
The idea of living on Mars has long been a captivating dream. Science fiction has shown us incredible visions of Martian colonies.
But before we can pack our bags, there’s a colossal construction challenge of building homes millions of miles from Earth.
Launching tons of construction materials into space isn’t practical or affordable. That’s why researchers have been exploring different approaches.
Dr. Congrui Grace Jin from Texas A&M University and her colleagues have spent years perfecting bio-manufacturing engineered living materials.
Now, they have reported the development of a synthetic lichen system that can create building materials entirely on its own.
“We can build a synthetic community by mimicking natural lichens. We’ve developed a way to build synthetic lichens to create biomaterials that glue Martian regolith particles into structures. Then, through 3D printing, a wide range of structures can be fabricated, such as buildings, houses and furniture,” said Grace Jin.
The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program funds this new study.
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