Martian homes could be 3D-printed from yeast and jello
Mars astronauts could live in houses made of yeast and jello, say scientists
Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a method to 3D-print structures on Mars using bioengineered yeast, gelatin, and Martian dirt. The mixture hardens in the cold, dry Martian atmosphere to form a foamy material with compressive strength of about 12 MPa, similar to low-grade concrete, while using far less energy than heating regolith.
Is there any physical law or fundamental mechanism that prevents us from doing this? I can't see any at this point in time.
- Neywiny
> Per the paper, testing the ability of the yeast-gelatin building foam to retain the pressure necessary to keep humans from succumbing to the Martian elements was outside the scope of the research.
> “A practical lunar or Martian habitat must integrate pressure retention, gas tightness, mechanical support, thermal regulation, radiation shielding, dust protection, repairability, and resource recycling,” the paper notes. “These requirements will likely require hybrid architectures” that include both the yeast foam and more traditional structures.
So no. They could very well need 99% "traditional" structures. All they did was find a way to make a semi-biological expanding foam. And that's cool. But it seems to be using Mars as a marketing crutch
- 9dev
This is exciting! And even if the result isn’t suitable as the only building material, there’s surely composite applications or buildings without a need to hold atmospheric pressure.
- fghorow
It's getting harder and harder to tell these days when El Reg is being serious. I think this is a case when that is so, but I'm not sure...