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Vivek Chawla and Dayakar Penumadu, both of UT, analyzed interlaminar shear strength.

Compared with the bare sections, biocrust-covered rammed earth was less porous and had higher shear strength and compressive strength, the team reports today.

"You maybe even want to sample the drift to see what it consists of, what the shear strength of the material is; and then you can put all this information into your models to refine them," said Dr Nicholson.

The technique - positioning and strategy during the climb - is just as, if not more, important than shear strength when it comes to maneuvering a wall.