Ever since humans first walked on the Moon, space agencies around the world have treated the idea of living beyond Earth as a major long term goal. Of the destinations we can realistically reach, Mars stands out as the leading candidate. Its dramatic terrain and a few familiar traits make it feel like the next frontier for exploration and settlement. Still, building a lasting human presence there remains one of our biggest ambitions and one of the hardest problems science and engineering have ever faced.

Mars was not always the way it is today. Over billions of years, the planet lost the thick atmosphere that once helped protect its surface. What remains is an environment that looks nothing like what most Earth life can tolerate. The air is extremely thin and mostly carbon dioxide, the pressure is under one percent of Earth's, and temperatures swing from about -90°C (-130°F) up to 26°C (79°F).

On top of that, there is constant cosmic radiation and no breathable air. That means a Mars shelter has to do far more than provide a roof and walls. It must function as a life supporting refuge that can withstand a world built to break down living systems. Shipping large amounts of construction material from Earth would be far too expensive and unrealistic. A practical approach is to build with what is already on Mars. In situ resource utilization (ISRU) means using local materials, and it is central to any plan for sustainable human life on the Red Planet.

NASA's Perseverance rover has collected samples from Jezero Crater, an ancient Martian riverbed, and they may contain evidence of very early life. That possibility raises a bigger question that goes beyond searching for past biology. If microbes once lived on Mars, could microbial processes also help us build there?

From Earth's earliest life to Martian construction

Life on Earth began with simple microorganisms in shallow water environments. Over time, these tiny organisms reshaped the planet in enormous ways, including helping fill the atmosphere with oxygen and creating structures as durable as coral reefs. As we look toward Mars, researchers are asking whether small life forms could again play an outsized role, this time by helping turn a barren world into a place humans can survive.

Our research takes inspiration from natural systems and brings together experts from multiple fields in an international cross disciplinary effort. The focus is biomineralization, a process where microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and microalgae) create minerals as part of their metabolism. Biomineralization has influenced Earth's landscapes for billions of years. Microorganisms that thrive in harsh settings such as acidic lakes, volcanic soils, and deep caves may be especially useful as we explore what could work under Martian conditions.

Turning Martian regolith into a building material

Using rover data about Martian soil (regolith), our team is examining different microbial mineralization routes to see which ones can produce strong materials for habitats while avoiding interplanetary pollution risks. The most promising option so far is biocementation. In this approach, microorganisms produce cement like substances such as calcium carbonate at room temperature.