[ad_1]
As humans move closer to the solar system, it will be necessary to use the resources available on other worlds. Transporting construction supplies from Earth via rockets is both impractical and frighteningly expensive. The best solution is to find the means to use the materials found on the Moon and Mars.
A new experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shown that some bacteria can extract materials from rocks found on the Moon and Mars useful to interplanetary colonists. Bacteria that mine the Moon and Mars, interplanetary colonists could obtain iron, magnesium and minerals to provide systems that supply air and water.
“Single-celled organisms have evolved over time on Earth to extract nutrients and other essential compounds from rocks through specialized chemical reactions. These bacterial processes are exploited to extract about 20% of the world’s copper and gold for human use. Scientists wanted to know if they also worked in microgravity conditions “, MIT Technology Review relationships.
[Read:
The trick is to fit bacteria with miner hats
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh spent 10 years developing biomining reactors.
In July 2019, eighteen of these matchbox-sized devices were launched on the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket. Each of these tiny reactors was loaded with basalt rocks (similar to those on Mars and the Moon), immersed in a bacterial solution.
Three strains of bacteria were tested in 36 experiments called BioRock, with Sphingomonas desiccabilis having – by far – the greatest effect on mineral extraction.
For three weeks, the samples were subjected to the microgravity environment aboard the ISS, as well as simulated gravitational fields similar to those found on the Moon and Mars. No significant differences were found between the samples in various gravitational fields.
Rare earth elements are vital to the manufacturing of nearly all electronic devices.
“For example, our results suggest that building robotic and man-made mines in the Moon region Oceanus Procellarum, which has rocks with enriched concentrations of rare earth elements, could be a fruitful direction of human scientific and economic development beyond the Earth, “said Professor Charles Cockell, of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh.
Hours … Hours … Hours … Listen to me, here …
Biomination on Earth helps refine copper, gold and other materials from the ore. Bacteria that mine the Moon and Mars could provide valuable resources through this well-established process, the study showed.
“The ability to mine materials in space (for example to build a future lunar or Martian base) can reduce the need to use valuable resources on Earth and associated transport resources”, NASA describes.
“Every being is dedicated and dedicated to an innate purpose. Individual cells, microbes, plants, insects, animals – each being makes its own unique contribution. “- Julie J. Morley, Future Sacred: The Connected Creativity of Nature
Researchers are looking for ways to build lunar colonies from lunar regolith, potentially with the addition of human urine.
Colonists on Mars could grow crops in Martian soil, enhanced to make it fertile for terrestrial plants.
In addition to developing new means of extracting material from planetary surfaces, this study may also add to our knowledge of how gravity affects plants here on Earth.
“This process can in some circumstances reduce the environmentally harmful use of toxic compounds such as cyanides. These microbial interactions with minerals are also used to decontaminate polluted soils, in a process called bioremediation, “the researchers suggest. Nature Communications.
Currently, SpaceX plans to bring one million people to Mars by 2050. Providing that number of people with food and supplies will likely require bacteria that mine the Moon and Mars, turning the crust into supplies to feed and host interplanetary explorers.
This article was originally published on The cosmic companion of James Maynard, founder and editor of The Cosmic Companion. He is a New England native turned desert mouse in Tucson, where he lives with his lovely wife, Nicole, and Max the Cat. You can read this original piece here.
Astronomy news with The Cosmic Companion it is also available as a weekly podcast, broadcast by all major podcast providers. Tune in every Tuesday for updates on the latest astronomy news and interviews with astronomers and other researchers working to uncover the nature of the Universe.
Read later:
Cyberpunk 2077 mocks “streamer mode” which disables copyrighted music
[ad_2]
Source link
