Jell-O and Beer May Hold the Keys to Brewing Houses on Mars

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Establishing life on another planet is a multifaceted process with many problems. Housing is one major challenge, but a new study suggests researchers have found a way to build living quarters on Mars using materials already present on the planet, along with a couple of other clever ingredients.

The study, published on Sept. 10 in the journal Chem Circularity, reports that researchers found a way to turn the sand on Mars into what is functionally low-grade concrete using little more than gelatin, yeast, and the natural Martian environment. Combine the three ingredients, and the dry, cold, low-pressure environment of Mars freeze-dries the mixture, turning it into a porous, foam-like material strong enough to build houses on the red planet.

“My inspiration came from freeze-dried fruits that become harder,” senior author Jishen Qiu of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said in a statement. “So, I asked myself...

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