"Artificial Photosynthesis: A Key to Sustainable Space Travel and Martian Occupation"

Devices that mimic the process of photosynthesis in plants to turn sunlight and water into oxygen are being developed for space exploration. A recent study sponsored by ESA has shown that artificial photosynthesis devices will work on the Moon and even on Mars. These devices produce oxygen from water and sunlight using semiconductor materials coated with metallic catalysts, bypassing the need for electricity. The research team has calculated that simple solar mirrors to concentrate sunlight would improve the process and could lead to higher oxygen production yields.