Scientists Say Mars, Habitats Could Be Built With , Potato-Based Concrete .<br />The Byte reports that scientists in <br />the United Kingdom have created a type of <br />concrete out of potato starch called 'StarCrete.'.<br />The Byte reports that scientists in <br />the United Kingdom have created a type of <br />concrete out of potato starch called 'StarCrete.'.<br />According to a press release, researchers <br />at the University of Manchester say the new <br />compound is "twice as strong as regular concrete.".<br />The team says that StarCrete is formed by combining , "extra-terrestrial dust, potato starch and a pinch of salt.".<br />The team's results were published in the <br />journal 'Open Engineering' last week.<br />The biomanufacturing team says that "surplus <br />starch produced as food for inhabitants could <br />be used for construction" of Martian habitats.<br />The Byte points out that the use <br />of StarCrete would require would-be <br />Martian colonists to grow potatoes.<br />Since we will be producing starch <br />as food for astronauts, it made sense <br />to look at that as a binding agent <br />rather than human blood, Dr. Aled Roberts, lead researcher and fellow at the University of <br />Manchester's Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, via The Byte.<br />Dr. Aled Roberts, the lead researcher on the project, said that , "current building technologies still need many years <br />of development and require considerable energy and <br />additional heavy processing equipment which <br />all adds cost and complexity to a mission." .<br />Roberts argues that the new compound <br />offers a simpler and more feasible <br />approach to building Martian habitats.<br />Before developing StarCrete, the team had created <br />another concrete-like material that required <br />astronauts' blood and urine to build and maintain.
