Amazing science! AI-powered robot unearths oxygen-making molecule on Mars in record time
Photo Credit: Pexels
In a groundbreaking discovery, an AI-powered robot chemist has successfully synthesised compounds from Martian meteorites that could potentially be used to generate oxygen on the Red Planet.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Oxygen on Mars: Future manned missions to the Red Planet require a sustainable source of oxygen, crucial for both human survival and as rocket propellant. Harnessing Martian resources is essential for cost-effective space exploration.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Mars' Frozen Water Ice Reserves: Mars hosts substantial reserves of frozen water ice, offering a valuable resource for oxygen production. Scientists aim to extract oxygen from water through chemical processes, exploring catalysts as a key solution, according to Nature report.
The Role of Catalysts: Catalysts are essential in splitting water molecules to produce oxygen and hydrogen gas. The study focuses on identifying catalysts from Martian materials, particularly meteorites, to leverage existing resources.
Photo Credit: Pexels
AI Chemist: An AI chemist, equipped with a robot arm, conducted experiments on five categories of Martian meteorites. The objective was to identify catalysts suitable for water splitting.
Photo Credit: Pexels
The AI chemist utilised a laser to scan the meteorite samples, identifying over 3.7 million possible molecules from six metallic elements found in Martian rocks: iron, nickel, manganese, magnesium, aluminium, and calcium.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Within just six weeks and without human intervention, the AI chemist selected, synthesised, and tested 243 different molecules from the potential pool, showcasing unprecedented efficiency.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Mars Conditions: The AI chemist identified the best catalyst capable of splitting water at -34.6F (-37C), mimicking the cold temperatures found on Mars. This discovery accelerates the development of oxygen production technology for future missions.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Human vs. AI Efficiency: Comparatively, it is estimated that a human scientist would require around 2,000 years to identify the optimal catalyst through conventional trial-and-error methods. This highlights the remarkable efficiency of AI in scientific exploration.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
The team now aims to test the AI chemist under various Martian conditions beyond temperature, considering factors like atmospheric composition, air density, humidity, and gravity.