In a groundbreaking experiment bringing humanity closer to sustainable life on the moon, researchers at the Hungarian University of Agriculture have successfully grown mustard plants in soil that mimics the lunar surface.
Over a six-week period in a laboratory north of Budapest, the team cultivated plants in two types of simulated lunar soil: one representing the moon’s highland regions and the other mimicking the lunar mare, or “seas.”
“The lunar soil has no organic compounds to feed the plant,” explained György Bark\u00f3, a senior researcher at the university. “So we had to develop a technology to support plant growth sustainably.”
Unlike other initiatives that involve planting thousands of seeds in varied soil samples to see what might grow, the Hungarian project focuses on creating a sustainable growing method. “Other countries are planting 10,000 different seeds in 10,000 different soil samples,” Bark\u00f3 said. “It’s a kind of trial and error. Maybe something is growing, but making it in a sustainable way is a different story.”
To achieve sustainability, the team is experimenting with bioengineered bacteria and tailored nutrients to create a viable medium for crops. They aim to expand their research to include lettuce, beans, and even small fruit-bearing plants in the future, echoing humanity’s ancient agricultural developments.
“This is like what humans did in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. Now, we’re doing it on the moon,” Bark\u00f3 noted, drawing parallels to the agricultural revolution in the Fertile Crescent.
One of the most significant challenges they are addressing is the moon’s lack of water. Transporting water from Earth is impractical and costly, so the researchers are exploring methods to extract it from lunar materials or recycle it through innovative means.
“We are investigating how to generate electricity,” Bark\u00f3 said. “Electricity and energy are everything. If you have energy, you can generate water from different kinds of minerals like copper sulfate. If you heat it, you can produce water.”
While the mustard plants have thrived in the simulated lunar soil, the team is awaiting test results to determine if they are safe for consumption. If deemed edible, this development could mark a turning point for long-term lunar missions, paving the way for astronauts to grow their own food on the moon.
This experiment aligns with global efforts to make the moon more habitable for humans. Researchers hope their findings will lay the groundwork for cultivating other crops and supporting sustainable life beyond Earth.
For now, the Hungarian team continues to refine their methods, bringing humanity one step closer to farming on the moon.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
