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Scientists make breakthrough growing chickpeas on the Moon

Mar 5, 2026, 6:28 PM10
(Update: Mar 5, 2026, 6:28 PM)
American space and aeronautics agency

Scientists make breakthrough growing chickpeas on the Moon

  • Researchers successfully grew chickpeas in a simulated lunar soil for the first time.
  • By adding vermicompost and fungi to the lunar regolith simulator, scientists created a viable environment for plant growth.
  • These findings mark a crucial step toward understanding potential food production on the Moon for future human inhabitants.
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In recent research, scientists conducted a groundbreaking study in which they attempted to grow chickpeas in a simulated representation of lunar soil, known as regolith. This innovative endeavor took place to address concerns regarding food production for future human settlements on the Moon. Aerospace agencies such as NASA have ambitions to establish human presence on the lunar surface in the coming years, thereby necessitating viable solutions for food cultivation in this harsh environment. The experiments were inspired by soil samples collected during NASA's Apollo missions, which revealed the regolith's characteristics lacking in organic nutrients and containing potentially harmful heavy metals. To overcome these challenges, researchers incorporated vermicompost and beneficial fungi into their experiments. Vermicompost, created by red wiggler earthworms which consume organic materials, provides essential nutrients that are crucial for plant growth. Additionally, the fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizae play a vital role by enhancing nutrient absorption for the chickpeas while simultaneously mitigating the toxic effects of heavy metals present in the lunar soil simulant. This innovative combination was key to establishing a supportive environment for the chickpeas to thrive. The team experimented with various soil mixtures, discovering that formulations containing up to 75 percent of the regolith enabled successful chickpea growth. Importantly, the fungi appeared to endure and was believed to only need initial introduction once, thus offering a sustainable solution for long-term crop cultivation. However, researchers cautioned that while the chickpeas could be harvested, it remained uncertain how nutritious they truly were, as they might be absorbing harmful substances during growth. The results of this research highlight a significant advancement in humanity's quest to sustain life beyond Earth. It signals a potential pathway for future agricultural practices on the Moon, aiming to ensure food security for astronauts and colonizers. As many questions regarding lunar living remain, this initial success in growing food crops could pave the way for developing sustainable habitats and further exploration of extraterrestrial sources of sustenance.

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