Why Structures on Mars Could Be Built From Blood, Sweat and Tears

It might sound gross, but it creates a material stronger than concrete.

Transcript

00:00When astronauts finally make it to Mars, a lot of what they're going to need to survive will need to be found on Mars itself.

00:10And when they build homes or other structures, they might be building those things out of their literal blood, sweat, and tears.

00:17University of Manchester researchers have recently figured out how to fabricate building materials using Martian regolith analogs,

00:23or the top layer of dirt on Mars or the moon, and other materials found within the human body.

00:28Those other materials, a particular blood protein, and another ingredient found in urine, sweat, and tears.

00:34Okay, so it sounds pretty gross.

00:36But the researchers say it's not only practical, but it's also stronger than regular concrete.

00:41For example, urea, the compound found in urine, makes concrete more flexible and therefore more durable.

00:46And albumin, the protein found in the plasma of blood, binds concrete.

00:50Together, they form astrocrete, the new material that outperforms modern concrete.

00:55And while this is how we might create long-lasting structures in the future on Mars,

00:59according to ScienceAlert, blood was once used as mortar for building, as far back as the Middle Ages.

01:04In the Middle Ages.

01:05In the Middle Ages.

01:06In the Middle Ages.