Scientists have discovered that the soil in Mars is capable of making building materials stronger than steel-reinforced concrete. That means it is possible to use the soil to build a city in the Red Planet.

NASA is currently developing the Orion spacecraft and if it will pass the entire safety test, they may possibly send the first human on Mars by 2030. NASA wants to build an outpost on the surface, but providing permanent materials to build structures is costly if it has been brought from the Earth.

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But according to the study from Scientific Reports, a research team from University of California at San Diego funded by NASA have observed that Martian soil has a compound that is capable of creating an extremely strong, dense rock. They were able to identify it using compression-only, no need to use chemicals or heat.

The research team used Martian soil simulant "Mars-1a," with a chemical composition found on Mars and similar to the earth which scientists previously used to create bricks.

However, prior research includes complex chemistry that requires polymers to bind the soil together. Yu Qiao, the lead author of the study, together with his colleagues, initially tried to decrease the amount of polymer needed to make a brick from Martian soil, but their attempt only showed there were none needed at all.

In the latest study, researchers covered the Mars-1a in a rubber tube and compacted it under high pressure from a small sample and a compression similar to blow of a hammer to transform it into dense rocks. The resulting product exceeds the typical strength of steel-reinforced concrete. The nanoparticle iron oxide - found in Martian soil - is the bonding agent.

The research team says that it is possible to build a Martian habitat using the soil of the planet. Martian soil simulant Mars-1a demonstrates that it can be directly compressed into a dense rock without any additives.

The scientists are now planning to create larger rocks, and if the research became successful, they could eventually build a city on the Red Planet. Qiao also said in a statement that he will be honored to make the bricks of the people who will go to Mars, which are considered to be the pioneers.