Why ice could be the secret to living on Mars
Scientists are seriously considering ice as the go-to material for building homes on Mars.
Turns out, Mars is packed with frozen water, and using it for construction could help future missions avoid shipping tons of supplies from Earth.
Ice isn't just easy to find—it also helps keep habitats warm and protects against dangerous space radiation, making life on Mars a lot more doable (and affordable).
How Martian ice makes habitats safer—and what's tricky about it
With over five million cubic kilometers of ice just waiting to be used, astronauts could build shelters that stay cozy despite wild temperature swings.
Plus, ice walls block harmful radiation but still let sunlight in—great news for growing plants and keeping people healthy.
The catch? Digging up all that ice takes a lot of energy, and Martian dust storms might make icy buildings harder to maintain.
Even so, researchers think these challenges are worth tackling if we want real Martian neighborhoods someday.