Yeast and Martian soil: a new material for 3D-printing Mars bases

A team led by Jishen Qiu at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has proposed a "Martian living building material": sand mixed with a water-based binder of pig gelatin and genetically modified yeast. It self-freezes at −85°F and an atmosphere 100 times thinner than Earth's, reaching about 12 MPa compressive and 6 MPa flexural strength, while one cubic meter needs under an hour of standard solar power.

• Compressive strength ~12 MPa, flexural 6 MPa — twice typical lightweight concrete
• Self-cures at −85°F and near-vacuum without heating
• 1 cubic meter needs under an hour of solar power vs days of sintering
• Recyclable: 4 print cycles with no loss of strength