Martian dust to dream homes: How microbes can build on the red planet

Scientists have developed a synthetic lichen system that could autonomously construct buildings on Mars using local materials. The system combines fungi and cyanobacteria to create building materials from Martian regolith without human intervention. This breakthrough could revolutionize extraterrestrial construction, enabling structures to be built in harsh environments with limited resources. The technology eliminates the need for transporting construction materials from Earth and requires only regolith, air, light, and an inorganic liquid medium to function.