The project consisted in designing and building a biologically safe cabin for analog missions to study Physarum polycephalum under UV and infrared radiation. The cabin featured four closed boxes with cameras and UV and IR emitters, a ventilated, filtered system, and sensors controlled by Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Photos, temperature, and humidity data every 4 minutes allowed tracking Physarum’s movement toward nutrient sources. The cabin demonstrated a safe, adaptable model for biological experiments in an analog mission.
The project involved the design and construction of a prototype biologically safe cabin for conducting experiments in an analog mission setting, where preventing biocontamination is critical. The cabin was specifically tailored for experiments with Physarum polycephalum (see the project Cellular Intelligence on the Martian surface ). It featured four closed boxes, each equipped with a camera and flash. Two of the boxes contained PCBs with specialized emitters: one with an infrared emitter and the other with a UV emitter. The electrical current supplied to these emitters was calibrated to reproduce the intensity of this type of radiation typically reaching the Martian surface.
Cameras and flash light were controlled using a Raspberry Pi, while the cabin also included a ventilation system with two fans, activated according to cabin temperature as measured by integrated temperature and humidity sensors. The ventilation system was equipped with membrane filters to prevent external contaminants from entering the cabin and to ensure that interior organisms could not escape and pollute the environment. An Arduino controlled the sensors and fans, transmitting the data to the Raspberry Pi for continuous monitoring and recording.
During operation, every four minutes a picture was captured, and the temperature and humidity were recorded. These pictures, together with the time, temperature, and humidity measurements, provide essential data to study the movement of Physarum toward nutrient sources under the specific radiation stressors. The cabin was designed to be lightweight, fully demountable, and easily transportable, making it suitable for analog missions and adaptable to different experimental setups.
This prototype successfully demonstrates a reliable approach to safely conducting biological experiments under controlled environmental stressors, offering a model for future Mars-based research while ensuring biocontainment.
