Can a 3D-Printed Beaker Help Algae Survive on Mars?
Updated: Jun 23
Student summary by Elizabeth Li
Original Source: Erin Garcia De Jesús, Sciencenews, July 2nd, 2025
Image created by Elizabeth Li
Abstract
Background:
Getting ahold of enough material to build and sustain a settlement on Mars would be nearly impossible. Even for humans to live there — or anywhere — without plants would be impossible. Mars has an atmosphere too thin to hold liquid water — about 100 times thinner than Earth's. This makes growing plants or even keeping water in its liquid form extremely difficult on Mars.
Objective:
To solve this problem, a team of researchers at Harvard wanted to create a habitat for a plant, such as algae, that could produce bioplastics so that the material could be used to build life-supporting structures for humans to live in. This meant that with plants producing material that could protect against the harsh conditions outside, a more self-sustaining loop could be formed.
Method:
They used a corn-based bioplastic to 3D-print see-through chambers. These chambers trapped enough air inside to keep water liquid, while the slightly cloudy plastic blocked harmful radiation but still allowed light to pass through for the algae. They tested the system using green algae.
Results:
The algae grew successfully inside the chambers. However, the structures would need to be larger and require additional insulation to handle Mars' freezing nights and warmer days. Studies showed that combining bioplastic with aerogel insulation could help better mimic Earth-like conditions inside the habitat.
Conclusion:
In the future, this material could potentially be modified to help support edible or food-producing plants, showing that plants may grow in Mars-like conditions. This research could help humans survive outside of Earth’s atmosphere.
