Scientists Create New Super-Strong Concrete Made From Mars Dust And Potato Starch
Researchers from the University of Manchester have developed a new type of concrete called "StarCrete", which is twice as strong as regular concrete.
StarCrete is made from planetary dust found on the surface of Mars, potato starch, and a pinch of salt.
Blood and urine were initially considered as binding agents, but were rejected.
The material was developed in response to the challenges of transporting expensive building materials to off-world locations like Mars.
A startup called DeakinBio has been launched by the team behind the discovery and aims to improve StarCrete for use on Earth as a more sustainable alternative to traditional concrete.
A startup called DeakinBio has been launched by the team behind the discovery and aims to improve StarCrete for use on Earth as a more sustainable alternative to traditional concrete.
The starch, which is produced for food, serves as a binding agent and can be found on many space missions, making it readily available to astronauts.
Additionally, the salt required to strengthen the material can be obtained from the tears of astronauts or from compounds found on the Martian surface.
StarCrete can be made in a regular oven or microwave at nominal home-baking temperatures, offering reduced energy costs for production.
The scientists behind the discovery believe that StarCrete has the potential to be used for building on Earth as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional concrete.
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