Hungarian scientists grow plants in lunar soil simulant

Researchers in Hungary have achieved a breakthrough that could bring humanity closer to living on the moon. Scientists at the Hungarian University of Agriculture have successfully grown mustard plants in soil that mimics the lunar surface.

In a lab north of Budapest, the team has spent six weeks cultivating plants in two types of simulated lunar soil: one representing highland regions and the other from the lunar mare, or sea.

"The lunar soil has no organic compounds to feed the plant," said György Barkó, senior researcher at the university. "So we had to develop a technology to support plant growth sustainably."

The project focuses on creating a sustainable growing method rather than large-scale production. Barkó explained that Hungary's approach differs from other countries conducting similar experiments.

"Other countries are planting 10,000 different seeds in 10,000 different soil samples," Barkó said. "It's a kind of trial and error to see what's working, what's not working. Maybe something is growing, but making it 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 grow lettuce, beans and even small fruit-bearing plants in the future – mimicking humanity's ancient agricultural development in the so-called Fertile Crescent.

"This is like what humans did in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. Now, we're doing it on the moon," Barkó said.

The researchers are also tackling one of the moon's biggest challenges: water, or rather the lack of it. Transporting water from Earth is costly, so they are exploring ways to extract it from lunar materials or recycle it.

"We are investigating how to generate electricity," Barkó said. "Electricity and energy is everything. If you have energy, you can use this kind of energy to generate water from different kinds of minerals like copper sulfate. If you heat it, you can generate water."

While the mustard plants have grown successfully, the team is awaiting test results to determine if they are safe for consumption. If the plants are edible, this development could mark a turning point for long-term lunar missions.

The 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 its methods, bringing us one step closer to farming on the moon.