Growing Building on Mars with Lichen and Bacteria

When humans finally reach Mars, they're going to rely on local resources for habitat construction. Researchers are considering how Martian explorers could use lichen and bacteria together with Martian regolith to form building materials. These biomaterials can glue together particles of crushed rock into a building material which can then be 3D-printed into houses, furniture and other buildings. This system might only require regolith, air, light and an inorganic medium to create the building material.

Jun 26, 2025 - 21:52
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Growing Building on Mars with Lichen and Bacteria

Microscopic view of the synthetic lichen system, in which red-colored fluorescent cells are cyanobacterial cells and the non-fluorescent cells are fungal cells. | Image: Courtesy of Dr. Congrui Grace Jin.

When humans finally reach Mars, they're going to rely on local resources for habitat construction. Researchers are considering how Martian explorers could use lichen and bacteria together with Martian regolith to form building materials. These biomaterials can glue together particles of crushed rock into a building material which can then be 3D-printed into houses, furniture and other buildings. This system might only require regolith, air, light and an inorganic medium to create the building material.