Bacteria Mining the Moon and Mars?
An experiment on the International Space Station shows how bacteria could aid in mining the Moon and Mars, easing the spread of humans to other worlds.
Bacteria mining the Moon and Mars could help our species colonize space, and lead to a cleaner environment here at home.
By James Maynard
Bacteria could assist space colonists of the future, seeking to mine the Moon and Mars in order to sustain human habitation of other worlds. Sphingomonas desiccabilis, seen here, extracts vital minerals from basalt at a surprising rate. Image credit: Rosa Santomartino, UK Centre for Astrobiology/University of Edinburgh.
As humans reach out into the solar system, it will be necessary to use resources available on other worlds. Carrying building supplies from Earth via rockets is both impractical, and frightfully expensive. The best solution is to find means to utilize materials found on the Moon and Mars.
A new experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) showed certain bacteria can extract materials from rocks found on the Moon and Mars useful to interplanetary colonists. Bacteria mining the Moon and Mars, interplanetary colonists could obtain iron, magnesium, and minerals to supply systems providing air and water.
Read more: https://thecosmiccompanion.net/bacteria-mining-the-moon-and-mars
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- James