Buildings on Mars to be 3D printed using insect chitin – The Times Hub

Buildings on Mars and other planets, scientists from the Singapore University of Technology and Design have proposed 3D printing using organic polymer chitin, which is found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects. According to the authors of the development, this technology was originally created for waste-free ecosystems in an urban environment, but it turned out to be so effective that it can be used in the colonization of lifeless objects in the Universe.

Image via: Flickr.comSince shipping building materials to other planets can be incredibly expensive, scientists are looking for alternatives. It was proposed to use regolith to create premises on Mars. This is the dust and sand that covers the Red Planet, however, to obtain concrete, a lot of water is required, and its reserves are quite limited. The use of modern construction equipment also faces problems. Singaporean scientists seem to have found a way out. They propose to build buildings on a 3D printer using insect chitin. This material can be used for construction, and the animals themselves can become an excellent source of protein for colonizers.

Scientists have already conducted laboratory experiments in which they mixed a compound of chitosan and acetic acid with the mineral equivalent of Martian soil. The result is a high-quality and durable building material. Moreover, such production may be completely waste-free.

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Buildings on Mars to be 3D printed using insect chitin - The Times Hub