In a breakthrough for sustainable space exploration, scientists have successfully grown algae inside biodegradable bioplastic chambers that simulate the harsh conditions of Mars. This experiment marks an important step toward building self-sustaining habitats on the Red Planet using regenerative biological systems, reducing the need for costly resupply missions from Earth.
Researchers used polylactic acid, a bioplastic made from natural sources, to create 3D-printed chambers. These chambers were designed to replicate Mars’s extreme environment, where the surface pressure is less than one percent of Earth’s. The team, led by Robin Wordsworth of Harvard University, reported in a recent study that the green algae Dunaliella tertiolecta not only survived but also carried out photosynthesis inside these bioplastic structures.
The bioplastic chamber protected the algae from harmful ultraviolet radiation while allowing enough light for biological activity. A pressure gradient within the chamber helped stabilize liquid water, an essential condition for life.
The study emphasized that bioplastics offer clear advantages over traditional industrial materials, which are hard to recycle and transport in space. Since polylactic acid comes from natural resources, it could potentially be produced or regenerated on Mars using the algae itself. “If you have a habitat that is composed of bioplastic and it grows algae within it, that algae could produce more bioplastic,” Wordsworth explained.
This research builds on earlier experiments that used silica aerogels to recreate greenhouse conditions similar to those on Earth. By combining algae-grown bioplastic for material regeneration with aerogels for thermal and atmospheric control, the scientists envision a path toward long-term human presence beyond Earth.
The next phase of research will test these systems under more extreme vacuum conditions. Wordsworth noted that the findings not only support future space missions but could also offer useful applications on Earth.
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