Scientists Say Mars, Habitats Could Be Built With , Potato-Based Concrete .
The Byte reports that scientists in
the United Kingdom have created a type of
concrete out of potato starch called 'StarCrete.'.
The Byte reports that scientists in
the United Kingdom have created a type of
concrete out of potato starch called 'StarCrete.'.
According to a press release, researchers
at the University of Manchester say the new
compound is "twice as strong as regular concrete.".
The team says that StarCrete is formed by combining , "extra-terrestrial dust, potato starch and a pinch of salt.".
The team's results were published in the
journal 'Open Engineering' last week.
The biomanufacturing team says that "surplus
starch produced as food for inhabitants could
be used for construction" of Martian habitats.
The Byte points out that the use
of StarCrete would require would-be
Martian colonists to grow potatoes.
Since we will be producing starch
as food for astronauts, it made sense
to look at that as a binding agent
rather than human blood, Dr. Aled Roberts, lead researcher and fellow at the University of
Manchester's Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, via The Byte.
Dr. Aled Roberts, the lead researcher on the project, said that , "current building technologies still need many years
of development and require considerable energy and
additional heavy processing equipment which
all adds cost and complexity to a mission." .
Roberts argues that the new compound
offers a simpler and more feasible
approach to building Martian habitats.
Before developing StarCrete, the team had created
another concrete-like material that required
astronauts' blood and urine to build and maintain.