New materials could make buildings on the Moon. Scientists in Europe say a new kind of concrete could be made with moon dust and urine from astronauts. There is a chemical in human urine called urea. This helps things stick together and could help to make concrete. Scientists could use 3D printers to make the material. Space agencies could start using this material to make buildings for a permanent moon base. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the China National Space Administration are all interested in building research stations on the Moon.
Astronaut pee and moon dust could save a lot of money. It costs about $10,000 to take 0.45kg of materials to the Moon. The urine and moon dust would be a cheaper way of building things. A scientist said: "A waste product, such as the urine of the personnel who occupy the moon bases, could be used." She added: "The actual water in the urine could be used for the mixture, together with [water] that can be obtained on the Moon." Scientists say there is ice on the Moon. The scientists say they need to do more tests to find the best building material.