Conquering Space: Oceans May Be Key to Colonizing New Worlds
Humanity’s dream of conquering space is closer than ever, and the answer may lie where you least expect it: in the depths of the oceans. Researchers from MARE – Polytechnic of Leiria present a revolutionary approach to sustain life beyond Earth, using marine resources as a solution to the challenges of space exploration.
The conquest of space, something that once seemed like a distant idea, is getting closer and closer, and the oceans could be the essential element to make this dream a reality. Researchers from MARE – Polytechnic of Leiria opened the doors to the colonization of space, through a study on the use of marine resources, published in the prestigious Marine Drugs. Marco Lemos, a senior researcher in this group, highlights how “marine organisms could be the key to making life outside Earth viable”.
Through marine organisms – algae, invertebrates and microorganisms – it will be possible to provide oxygen and food, protect against cosmic radiation and produce energy, allowing life to be sustained in prolonged missions and making the colonization of new worlds viable. In this way, organisms such as microalgae can be used to create self-regulating environments, recycling nutrients and generating oxygen, while bioactive compounds from the deep sea combat the harmful effects of radiation in space.
In this sense, marine biotechnology will be the essential tool to help humanity sustainably live in space. Using the oceans, systems are being developed that recycle resources such as water, air and nutrients, which will allow space missions to become less dependent on resupply from Earth.
Some examples of the latest scientific advances related to this topic are technologies such as hydroponics, which makes it possible to grow plants without soil, or marine biorefineries, which transform waste into new materials and energy. Furthermore, materials extracted from marine organisms can still be used in the construction of more resistant and innovative space structures. Another way to take advantage of these resources is through algae that can be converted into biofuels to generate clean and renewable energy in space. Thanks to these new solutions and discoveries, it will be possible to pave the way for more sustainable and independent space exploration, where marine resources play a central role.
Still, there are challenges that Marco Lemos explains are related to the “adaptation of marine organisms to microgravity and radiation, as well as the construction of compact and efficient cultivation systems for the limited environments of space, which require innovation and international collaboration”, difficulties that can be overcome through interdisciplinary research, between the areas of marine sciences and space agencies.
The synergy between these two areas reinforces the sustainable management of terrestrial resources, together with the exploration of the cosmos, positioning the oceans as the basis of a new era of humanity, for the colonization of new worlds.
About MARE
MARE – Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences – is a centre for scientific research, technological development and innovation with the skills to study all aquatic ecosystems, both on the continental side and at sea. Promotes sustainable resource use and ocean literacy by disseminating scientific knowledge and supporting sustainable development policies. Created in 2015, it includes 8 Regional Research Units associated with the following institutions: University of Coimbra (MARE-UCoimbra), Polytechnic of Leiria (MARE-Polytechnic of Leiria), University of Lisbon (MARE-ULisboa), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (MARE -NOVA), ISPA – University Institute (MARE-ISPA), Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (MARE-IPSetúbal), University of Évora (MARE-UÉvora), University of Madeira and ARDITI (MARE-Madeira).
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