TWiS 132: Living in Martian Mushrooms - Growing Fungal Space Habitats

Update: 2024-10-11

Description

This week, we're diving deep into some really clever and cutting-edge tech for Martian habitats... made from fungus! Dr. Lynn Rothschild of the NASA Ames Research Center has been working for years on how mushroom mycelia might be utilized as a habitat-building resource. It's quite fascinating--the organic material can be used to make bricks, to create shaped structures, and even to create an "astropharmacy" to supply certain compounds needed by the crew of a Mars excursion! And it is sufficiently enticing that NASA's NIAC innovation program has given her no less than five grants (which are not easy to get!) to study the possibilities. Join us for this really engaging and blue-sky conversation!

Headlines:

• ISS has been experiencing a slow air leak, increasing from 0.2 pounds per day to 3.7 pounds per day, causing concern for NASA's Office of the Inspector General

• Jupiter's Great Red Spot has been shrinking and "pulsing" over time, as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope, with scientists predicting it will eventually stabilize as a smaller, circular storm

• A rare G4-class solar storm triggered widespread auroras visible at much lower latitudes than usual, with NOAA issuing warnings to protect power grids and communication systems

Main Topic - Living in Martian Mushrooms:

• Dr. Rothschild explains synthetic biology as creating something new with biology, either by altering existing organisms or creating new ones from scratch

• The concept of using fungal mycelium for off-world habitats originated from a student project to create a biodegradable drone body

• Mycotecture involves growing habitats and structures using mycelium, which can bind various materials like sand, regolith simulant, and wood chips

• The properties of mycelium-based materials can be tuned by adjusting the substrate and post-processing, ranging from styrofoam-like to hardwood-like consistencies

• Dr. Rothschild's vision for a stable off-world habitat includes using cyanobacteria to process atmospheric gases and minerals, which would then feed the fungi used in construction

• Cross-contamination concerns on Mars are addressed, with the lack of liquid water on the surface making it unlikely for introduced organisms to thrive

• Additional applications of mycelium-based technology include biomining, water filtration, and even food production

• Dr. Rothschild also discusses the Astro Pharmacy project, which aims to develop an on-demand drug production system for astronauts

• While these technologies have significant potential for Earth-based applications, developing them for space allows for more freedom to explore revolutionary ideas without existing infrastructure constraints