Growing plants on Mars require adding nutrients removing toxic chemicals the Martian soil, to lab experiments. article explores types fake Mars dirt how affect plant growth, suggests microbial helpers.
A tough plant "pioneer" can grow Martian soil. customizing car, NASA-funded scientists designing plants can survive harsh conditions Mars. plants provide oxygen, fresh food, even medicine astronauts living their waste.
And, yes, is to grow plants on Mars - kind of. Alone, Martian soil doesn't the elements plant life. "The main that's in Martian soil a bunch nutrients biological materials plants rely to grow," Weir says. "It's there because, obviously, there's life Mars."
A Texas undergrad investigating how to grow vegetables Mars — has cultivated test samples English peas simulated Martian soil, fertilizer fly larvae.
Now new study suggests way forward: alfalfa plants. forage crop be capable surviving tough volcanic soil that covers Mars, researchers determined, could then as fertilizer grow food turnips, radishes lettuce.
Fertilizing Mars. Research suggests Martian soil some the nutrients plants to grow survive (see "Plants' Nutrients," right). because Mars's extremely cold conditions, plants as Watney's potatoes need grow a controlled environment, as Hab.
Learn how astroagriculturalists a symbiotic microbe boost clover growth Martian soil. study shows nitrogen-fixing bacteria help plants thrive the harsh environment the Red Planet.
The Martian: of watched loved movie.Some us read book. few us inspired use story teach plant science students. Martian Andy Weir tells fictional story NASA astronaut botanist Mark Watney, becomes stranded on Mars has figure how stay alive the NASA mission returns rescue him.
If humans to live Mars will a stable supply food. Earth plants not suited the Mars climate we engineer plants are.
The struggle grow crops Mars one the main challenges faced the hero the Golden Globe- Hugo Award-winning 2015 film "The Martian," helped inspire research."This .
Geologists Simulate Martian Soil Conditions to Figure Out How to Grow
