For every astronaut who has the hope to live on Mars, growing the food crops in arid soil of the red planet is one of the important things in order to meet the needs of their life there. Currently, the researchers have shown that growing vegetables in the Martian soil may be to do. Not only that, the food is also safe for human consumption.
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| Tests have shown the crops (radishes pictured) were safe to eat as they had not absorbed the heavy metals found in Martian soils. It suggests astronauts could safely farm and grow their own food in a colony on Mars. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1bcPBI) |
Scientists at Wageningen Univeristy, the Netherlands, was able to harvest 10 plants in soil that is similar to the characteristics of Martian soil with abundant results, including radishes, peas, tomatoes, lettuce, arugula, and rye.
Based on trial results, these plants do not contain heavy metals up to dangerous levels. This indicates, future astronauts are likely to emulate the work done by Mark Whatney (played by Matt Damon) in 'The Martian' movie who managed to grow plants on Mars.
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| Scientists have shown that crops grown in soil simulating that found on the surface of Mars (Weiger Wamelink inspects plants in the picture) are safe to eat. Although they have yet to actually try the vegetables themselves, they found they had not absorbed the toxic heavy metals found in Martian soil. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1bcPBI) |
Although not use land that comes directly from Mars, the researchers mix multiple types of soil Earth that resemble what is found on the red planet. Wieger Wamelink, an ecologist at Wageningen University said the results of their tests superb and very promising.
"We really can eat radishes, peas, wheat, and tomatoes, and I am very curious what it's like," said Wamelink.
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| Researchers grew 10 vegetables and cereal crops, including peas (pictured) in soils designed to simulate the surface of the Moon and Mars. They found while the Moon crops struggled, those in the Martian soil flourished as well as those on Earth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1bcPBI) |
As quoted from the Daily Mail on Sunday, June 26, 2016, the researchers cultivate these plants in a greenhouse with temperature, humidity, and constant light like on Mars, but still use the Earth's atmosphere.
"This was done because we hope that the first plants to grow on Mars and the Moon will be done in the underground to protect the plant from a hostile environment, including cosmic radiation," said Wamelink.
NASA and other international space agencies hope to send humans to Mars in 2030 in the long term. And Elon Musk, one of US famous billionaires and the Dutch company Mars One, also plans to create a colony on the red planet.
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| The Martian surfaces. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1bcPtV) |
Therefore, Mars settlers in future are expected to meet the basic needs of their own, one of which grow the vegetables. It is a challenge, because the Martian soil known to contain heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILY MAIL]
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