"Potato-Based Materials Could Be the Key to Building Martian Cities"
Scientists from the University of Manchester have developed a new type of concrete called "StarCrete" made of potato starch and material simulating the dust of Mars or the Moon, which is much stronger than regular concrete. The team estimates that 25 kilograms of dehydrated potato starch is needed to make 213 bricks. StarCrete can be made in a regular oven or even a microwave, making it more energy efficient. The production of this material is responsible for 8 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, and StarCrete could be a greener alternative to concrete. The team has created a start-up called DeakinBio to improve StarCrete for space and potential use on Earth.