Experiments Show Potatoes Can Survive In Lunar Solar (With Lots of Help)

Title: Scientists Prove Potatoes Can Grow on the Moon — With a Little Help from Earth

In a groundbreaking experiment that feels straight out of science fiction, researchers have successfully grown potatoes in lunar soil — a discovery that could one day sustain human life on the Moon or Mars. Inspired by the 2015 blockbuster The Martian, where astronaut Mark Watney survives on Mars by cultivating potatoes in Martian regolith, scientists have now proven that the idea isn’t as far-fetched as it once seemed.

In a new preprint published on bioRxiv, a team of researchers led by David Handy, a space biologist at Oregon State University (OSU), demonstrated that potatoes can indeed grow in simulated lunar soil. However, as it turns out, even in space, potatoes need a little help from Earth to thrive.

Recreating the Moon on Earth

To conduct their experiment, the team first had to recreate lunar regolith — the loose, powdery layer that blankets the Moon’s surface. Using a mix of crushed minerals and volcanic ash, they replicated the Moon’s unique chemistry in the lab. But there was a catch: lunar regolith is entirely devoid of organic matter, which plants need to grow.

“Turning an inorganic, inhospitable bucket of glorified sand into something that can support plant growth is complex,” explained Anna-Lisa Paul, a plant molecular biologist at the University of Florida, who was not involved in the study.

The Secret Ingredient: Earth’s Compost

To give the potatoes a fighting chance, the researchers added vermicompost — organic waste from worms — to the simulated lunar soil. They found that a mix with just 5% compost was enough to allow the potatoes to grow while still mimicking the stressful conditions of the lunar environment.

After nearly two months of growth, the team harvested the tubers, freeze-dried them, and ground them up for further testing. The results were both surprising and promising.

Stress and Survival

Analysis of the potatoes’ DNA revealed that stress-related genes had been activated, indicating that the plants were indeed struggling to adapt to their harsh environment. Additionally, the potatoes contained higher concentrations of copper and zinc than those grown on Earth, which could potentially make them unsafe for human consumption.

However, the nutritional value of the lunar-grown potatoes was surprisingly similar to traditional Earth-grown potatoes — a finding that left the researchers pleasantly surprised. “We expected lower levels of nutrition because the plants might have been working overtime to overcome certain stressors,” Handy said.

Implications for Space Exploration

This experiment marks a significant step forward in the quest to sustain human life on the Moon or Mars. While the potatoes still require Earth’s help to grow, the study demonstrates that it’s possible to cultivate crops in extraterrestrial soil — a crucial factor for long-term space missions or colonization efforts.

As humanity continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, discoveries like this bring us one step closer to turning science fiction into reality. Who knows? The next time we set foot on the Moon, we might just be digging up potatoes for dinner.

Tags: potatoes, lunar soil, space farming, The Martian, bioRxiv, vermicompost, lunar regolith, space biology, Oregon State University, extraterrestrial agriculture

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