Astronomers have traced a mysterious blast of X-rays to a star that, like a cosmic action hero, just refused to die.
If humanity intends to live and work beyond Earth, we need solutions for living sustainably in inhospitable environments. Even Mars, the most hospitable planet in the Solar System beyond Earth, is hostile to life as we know it. These include extreme temperature variations, a thin, unbreathable atmosphere, toxic soil, and higher-than-normal levels of solar and cosmic radiation. Given the distance between Earth and Mars and the time it takes to send missions there (6 to 9 months using conventional propulsion), these habitats must be closed-loop, self-sustaining environments that provide crews with food, water, and breathable air.
