From fruit to bricks: Hong Kong engineers explore how to build houses on Mars
Video. Engineers in Hong Kong are developing 3D-printable building materials that could one day be used to construct houses on Mars. Inspired by freeze-dried fruit, the team is combining sand, gelatine and genetically engineered yeast to create a concrete-like material under simulated Martian conditions.
Updated: 17/10/2026 - 6:40 GMT+2
Building homes on Mars remains a major challenge, but researchers in Hong Kong are developing a potential solution: 3D-printable building blocks made from materials that could be sourced on the Red Planet.
Inspired by freeze-dried fruit, the team is creating a mixture of sand, gelatine and genetically engineered yeast that produces adhesive proteins to strengthen the material.
The researchers are testing the blocks under simulated Martian conditions, although transporting equipment and supplying enough energy remain major obstacles.
Watch the video to find out more.
