Scientists are working to make Mars a second home for humans, but a major question remains: how to build structures on the planet without shipping heavy materials from Earth. Researchers at Texas A&M University, led by Dr. Congrui Grace Jin, are developing a solution using Martian soil and natural resources. They have created a synthetic lichen system that combines fungi and cyanobacteria to produce strong building materials. The system is self-sustaining, requiring only Martian regolith, air, light, and an inorganic liquid medium to grow.
The team’s goal is to create regolith ink for 3D printing, allowing for the construction of structures such as buildings, houses, and furniture. This technology has the potential to enable long-term extraterrestrial exploration and colonization. The synthetic lichen system can survive in harsh environments, making it ideal for Martian conditions. NASA has funded the research, which could redefine construction by bringing biology and engineering together. The ultimate goal is to have a system that can be loaded onto a spacecraft and activated upon arrival, growing itself into a shelter for the first humans to set foot on Mars.