Building a habitat in space requires special materials. For example, it is a challenge to transport heavy construction materials, such as concrete, into orbit because they cost a lot to blast off-planet.
One solution to this is to use myco-tectural approaches. For instance, a team from the University of Manchester used fungi and thin plastic molds to grow structures that are more compact and lighter than traditional materials.
Concrete
Concrete is a ubiquitous building material, so much so that it’s easy to forget that it’s made of a very simple combination of rocks and gravel mixed with cement. It is often called “liquid stone” or rocky jello, and it can be poured into a mold and shaped as desired to construct almost anything. It is also fire resistant and has the ability to withstand moisture, and there are many ways that it can be customized for specific uses.
Concrete can be infused with many different types of additives and can take on unique appearances and surface textures. It is used in both commercial and residential construction, and it helps minimize temperature fluctuations in buildings to save energy. It is incredibly durable, making it a great option for harsh environments like high-heat factories or coastal areas. Concrete is also very eco-friendly, as it is produced from recycled materials like slag and fly ash.
One major challenge to the future development of space habitats is the cost of bringing construction materials to extraterrestrial locations. Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed a new type of concrete they call Cosmos Concrete that is based on resources available on Mars or the Moon, bypassing the need for costly transportation. They found that a protein in human blood, combined with a compound extracted from urine, sweat or tears, could glue together simulated lunar or Martian soil to produce a concrete-like substance with compressive strengths 300% higher than ordinary concrete.
Graphene
Scientists have discovered a new material that could help them build future space habitats. The robust carbon allotrope is called graphene, and it has the potential to strengthen space structures while also allowing them to function in different temperatures.
A team from The University of Manchester is working with global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to develop a prototype for graphene-enhanced space habitats. The researchers say that the 2D material will allow them to create pressurised vessels for a modular space station for use in low earth orbit.
The addition of the material will increase the strength of the space habitats while reducing their weight, making them more affordable to transport. It will also help them to withstand the various challenges of space travel, such as radiation and heat.
Graphene has several properties that make it ideal for space applications, such as its transparency and flexibility. It can also be used to create windows that are able to control solar energy. Moreover, the material can be incorporated into electronics to improve their performance.
The research could eventually lead to a home built on Mars that is powered by the sun’s energy. This structure would be a hybrid between traditional concrete and space-age materials like graphene. Its transparent walls would capture the sun’s rays and reflect them off the ground, while the insulating properties of graphene would help to regulate the interior temperature.
Myco-Architecture
Getting building materials to the Moon or Mars requires an extraordinary amount of energy, and that’s the problem that scientists at NASA Ames in California are trying to solve. Instead of shipping massive amounts of construction materials, the team is prototyping technologies that could “grow” habitats on-site. The researchers are working with fungi, specifically the unseen underground threads that make up a fungus’s main bulk, known as mycelia.
Myco-architecture builds on the impressive properties of mycelium, which can grow and bind to itself as it expands into a solid structure. It’s also resistant to radiation, can withstand temperatures from below freezing to over 300 degrees Fahrenheit and is insulating and fire resistant. Scientists are able to control the structure’s growth, and they’re hoping that it will be strong enough to protect astronauts in a deep-space environment.
The team’s design is based on three layers. A protective outer ice layer would send water and the sun’s energy to a layer of cyanobacteria, which would photosynthesise to produce oxygen for astronauts as it creates and maintains atmospheric pressure. That oxygen would feed the final layer of mycelia, which would build a durable space habitat.
The concept is still in the early stages of development, but researchers are optimistic. The Stanford-Brown-RISD team’s mycelia bags can be folded and stored for transport, then inflated at the destination site to generate mycelium that grows into the entire structure. The mycelia are held together by a stitching system similar to that of an inflatable stand-up paddleboard. The stitches don’t stretch when the mycelia expand, and that keeps the structure flat and insulated.
Biodegradable Plastics
Plastics have become ubiquitous in modern society. Their low production cost, durability, lightness and versatility have made them indispensable. They have boosted energy efficiency in building construction, improved food storage and transport, and reduced food spoilage by increasing product shelf life. Unfortunately, they have also come under fire for their environmental impacts and the need for long-term recycling.
To address these problems, researchers have developed biodegradable plastics that decompose into biomass within a few months when exposed to heat and oxygen. These plastics are a much better alternative to traditional synthetic plastics, since they do not contain any petroleum and use plant-based feedstocks instead. They can even be broken down using microbial enzymes, such as bacteria.
However, it is important to note that not all biodegradable plastics are created equal. Some biodegradable plastics may suck up more carbon than they emit when they break down, while others can release toxins into the environment.
To avoid this, it is important to separate biodegradable plastics from non-biodegradable ones. The best way to do this is by ensuring that they are not mixed with one another when discarded. This will ensure that the plastics do not contaminate recycling and composting streams and prevent their decomposition. Moreover, the proper disposal method for these products is crucial because sending them to landfills creates an entombment for waste, which prevents them from getting sufficient light and air to decompose.