In a groundbreaking development poised to revolutionize extraterrestrial colonization, researchers at Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have demonstrated the viability of cultivating green algae within bioplastic shelters designed to mimic the atmospheric conditions of Mars. This innovative approach to habitat construction leverages organic materials that not only support life but also have the intrinsic capability to sustain and regenerate themselves, signaling a radical departure from the conventional, resource-intensive methodologies that dominate current space habitat engineering.
Traditional space habitat concepts rely heavily on transporting vast quantities of industrial materials from Earth, a logistic and economic bottleneck that has long constrained humanity’s ambitions for long-term presence on the Moon, Mars, or beyond. The Harvard team’s solution circumvents these challenges by harnessing biologically derived materials, specifically bioplastics produced from algae, to fabricate living structures that foster the growth of their own foundational biomass. By integrating living organisms directly into the architecture of habitats, this study opens new avenues for creating closed-loop systems that may autonomously regenerate and expand over time, thus significantly reducing the dependency on Earth-imported supplies.
Central to these experiments is Dunaliella tertiolecta, a robust and well-studied species of green microalgae known for its resilience under extreme environmental conditions. The team engineered a 3D-printed growth chamber constructed from polylactic acid (PLA), a widely used biodegradable bioplastic, capable of filtering harmful ultraviolet radiation while permitting adequate light transmission essential for photosynthesis. This delicate balance is crucial for enabling the algae to carry out photosynthetic processes in situ, generating organic compounds pivotal for producing additional bioplastic material and supporting the internal ecosystem of the habitat.
The environmental parameters simulated within the experimental chambers correspond closely to Martian surface conditions, particularly a low atmospheric pressure approximating 600 Pascals — over 100 times less than Earth’s average. Such thin atmospheres typically preclude the stable presence of liquid water, a fundamental requirement for life as we know it. Remarkably, the bioplastic chamber establishes a pressure gradient conducive to stabilizing liquid water inside the habitat, effectively creating a microenvironment where algae can thrive. This breakthrough implies that bioplastic structures could potentially mitigate one of the key challenges of off-world habitation—sustaining liquid phases essential for biological activity despite hostile external conditions.
Moreover, the controlled Mars-like atmosphere in these experiments was rich in carbon dioxide, aligning with the actual composition of the Martian atmosphere dominated by CO2 rather than Earth’s nitrogen-oxygen mix. This carbon dioxide abundance is critical as it supplies the essential carbon source enabling algae to perform photosynthesis and grow. The ability of these bioplastic enclosures to maintain suitable pressure and ambient gas composition collectively models a microhabitat with functional biogeochemical cycles, approximating the feedback loops required for sustained life support systems in outer space environments.
The implications of this work reach well beyond the laboratory. The concept of bioplastic habitats infused with autotrophic organisms like algae suggests an architecture that is inherently adaptive and renewable. These biohybrid structures could, in principle, repair themselves, grow, and even evolve in response to changing environmental stimuli, contrasting starkly with static, manufactured habitats that require extensive maintenance and material resupply. This paradigm shift envisions a future where extraterrestrial habitats emerge not merely as constructed shelters but as living, dynamic entities intricately entwined with their microbial inhabitants.
Previous research led by Robin Wordsworth and colleagues has explored complementary approaches to enabling biological life on Mars, including the use of silica aerogel sheets. These materials replicate aspects of Earth’s greenhouse effect, providing thermal regulation crucial for maintaining temperatures amenable to plant and microbial growth. Integrating bioplastic-algae habitats with such aerogel-based systems could overcome dual hurdles of temperature and pressure regulation that currently limit off-world biological cultivation. Together, these strategies portend holistic designs that synthesize materials science and biology to create viable living quarters on hostile planets.
Beyond Mars, these innovations carry profound implications for lunar bases and deep-space missions, where vacuum conditions and extreme environmental stressors challenge conventional engineering. The research team is actively pursuing studies to validate the functionality of these biomaterial habitats under vacuum and radiation levels matching lunar or interplanetary space. Success in these arenas could catalyze the construction of bio-regenerative shelters that shield astronauts from radiation and provide life support, potentially transforming the feasibility and sustainability of long-duration human spaceflight.
At the heart of this endeavor is the principle of closed-loop sustainability—a self-sufficient system wherein biological processes regenerate the structural materials and life-support components in perpetuity. By enabling the algae within the bioplastic matrix to photosynthetically produce the bioplastic itself, the habitat essentially grows its own infrastructure. This recursive production system could dramatically lower the mass and cost penalties associated with initial launches, thus playing a critical role in future mission design and strategic planning for humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.
Besides the tangible benefits for interplanetary exploration, these biotechnological advancements embody promising spillover effects for environmental sustainability on Earth. The development of biomaterial habitats nurtures innovative approaches to recycling, renewable material synthesis, and eco-friendly construction technologies. Lessons learned from managing closed-loop biological systems in extreme environments could enhance urban sustainability, waste processing, and carbon sequestration strategies in terrestrial settings, thereby delivering wide-ranging ecological and economic advantages.
This vision is spearheaded by interdisciplinary collaboration, uniting expertise across environmental science, engineering, geology, planetary science, and synthetic biology. With support from grants such as the Leverhulme Center for Life, Harvard Origins of Life Grant, and the National Science Foundation, the research coalesces theoretical foundations with experimental rigor. Co-authors including Rafid Quayum, Elida Kocharian, Ann Pearson, Xavier Portillo, Madeleine Yang, Charles S. Cockell, Shannon Nangle, and George Church contribute across multifaceted avenues, reflecting the integrative nature required to address the complexities of life beyond Earth.
In sum, the research from Harvard SEAS marks a pivotal leap forward in conceiving space habitats not as inert containers but as living ecosystems capable of self-sustainment and growth. As humanity prepares to embark on sustained extraterrestrial missions, the fusion of biomaterials and organismal ingenuity could lay the foundation for a vibrant, enduring presence on Mars and elsewhere in the cosmos. These advances foreshadow a future where the boundary between natural and engineered environments blurs, unlocking resilient and adaptive technologies vital for off-world survival and prosperity.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Biomaterials for organically generated habitats beyond Earth
News Publication Date: 2-Jul-2025
Image Credits: Wordsworth Group / Harvard SEAS
Keywords: Planetary science, Applied sciences and engineering, Engineering, Environmental sciences, Industrial science, Earth sciences, Earth systems science, Geochemistry, Astronomy, Planetary systems, Mars, Habitable planets, Terrestrial planets, Space exploration, Astronauts, Space flight, Space research, Manned space missions, Environmental engineering
