Biotechnology
Proposed research using radiotrophic fungi and melanin.
Mars Challenge / Projects / R-Fungus
National and international winners · Reto Marte 2023Biology and design.
Red-Gaia VII
R-Fungus
Biology and design.
Imagining protection.
Red-Gaia VII proposed exploring radiotrophic fungi in a modular system to investigate radiation protection in Martian habitats.
- Edition
- 2023 · Reto Marte
- Country
- Ecuador
- Recognition
- National and international winners
- Focus
- Biotechnology and habitats
01 · The challenge
How could radiation be addressed in a Martian habitat?
Reto Marte 2023 invited teams to imagine six people surviving for two years on Mars. R-Fungus focused its proposal on radiation exposure.
02 · The solution
Fungi and living modules in one proposal.
The original page presents a biotechnology concept based on radiotrophic fungi. It does not include radiation protection measurements or demonstrate energy self-sufficiency.
Controlled cultivation
A central farm with temperature and humidity control.
Modular integration
Proposed ducts and containers connecting cultivation with living modules.
The concept combines biology, architecture and engineering to explore an alternative approach to habitat design.
03 · Earth-Back Thinking
A space challenge. A question for other environments.
Transfer to Earth is framed as a research direction for materials and biological systems in radiation exposure contexts.
On Mars
Investigate potential biological protection systems in living modules.
On Earth
Explore research in radiation exposure environments without claiming certified applications.
Potential applications described by the team, rather than measured impact outcomes.
Historical project · 2023 edition
Red-Gaia VII
The team’s conceptual business vision connects science, nature and technology to explore living solutions for extreme environments.
04 · Ecuador
The people behind the project.
10 members bringing different areas of knowledge to the same question.
Leonardo López Vallejo
Computer engineering
Andrés Arias
Architecture
Julliana Tapia
Architecture
Michael Bonilla
Civil engineering
Erick Soria
Computer engineering
Karen Bohórquez
Architecture
Sofia Ávila
Architecture
Melanie Alcívar
Medicine
Andrea del Pino
Computer engineering
Carlos Macías
Architecture
Authorship, source and scope
Project and authorship: team Red-Gaia VII. Country: Ecuador. Edition: Reto Marte 2023. Recognition: national and international winners, according to the original Mars Challenge project page.
A descriptive presentation preserving authorship and source. It does not reproduce technical documentation or attribute clinical, radiological or commercial outcomes.
View the original project page ↗What would you like to explore from this idea?
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