Press coverage: "Scientists create super-strength ‘cosmic concrete’ for building on Mars"

British researchers have developed “StarCrete,” a concrete-like material made from Martian dust, potato starch, and a pinch of salt, aimed at enabling construction on Mars without transporting building materials from Earth. Initially exploring human blood and urine as binders, the team shifted to starch, a food source astronauts would already produce, avoiding the impracticality of bodily fluids. StarCrete is more than twice as strong as ordinary concrete, with a compressive strength of 72 MPa, which is even stronger when made with Moon dust. A sack of dehydrated potatoes could yield nearly half a tonne of StarCrete, significantly simplifying Mars missions by reducing equipment and energy needs. The team’s start-up, Dekiln, is also investigating StarCrete’s potential as a sustainable, low-energy alternative to traditional concrete on Earth, helping cut carbon emissions from cement production.

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