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3mo ago

NASA-Backed Synthetic Lichen Converts Martian Regolith Into Construction Material

The bioengineered fungi-cyanobacteria community has proven it can autonomously bind regolith particles in simulated Mars conditions, paving the way for 3D printing applications.

A synthetic habitat could be built with the help of a self-growing technology that harnesses local resources and microbes to autonomously form structures on the Red Planet. (Credit: Texas A&M University)
(Credit: NASA/Clouds AO/SEArch)

Overview

  • NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program is funding Dr. Congrui Grace Jin’s team to develop a self-growing building material using a synthetic lichen community.
  • The engineered lichen pairs heterotrophic filamentous fungi with diazotrophic cyanobacteria to generate oxygen, organic nutrients, biominerals, and biopolymers without external inputs.
  • In a simulated Martian environment of regolith, light, air, and inorganic fluid, the consortium autonomously produced a resilient composite by binding soil particles.
  • The study was published June 23 in the Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering and highlights a breakthrough in in situ resource utilization for space exploration.
  • The next phase will test the biogenerated regolith composite’s performance in 3D printing to fabricate potential habitats and infrastructure on Mars.