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Could future astronauts build houses on Mars with bacteria?
- Researchers propose growing construction materials on Mars using a bacterial co-culture to bind regolith for 3D printing.
- ISRU concept aims to reduce the need to haul heavy construction materials from Earth to Mars.
- Chroococcidiopsis could produce oxygen and support life-support systems on Mars habitats.
- Ammonia from Sporosarcina pasteurii could help develop closed-loop agricultural systems on Mars.
- The study was published Dec. 2, 2025, in Frontiers, highlighting a potential Mars construction pathway.
- Bacteria pair chosen for the technique are Sporosarcina pasteurii and Chroococcidiopsis.
- The concept could enable 3D printing of habitat components on the Martian surface.
- ISRU-focused research aims to make Mars settlements more sustainable by using local materials.
- The approach targets longer-term habitats with potential life-support and terraforming implications.
- The article discusses the broader mission context of Mars housing and resource efficiency.
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