Japanese scientists have grown vegetables in soil that mimics soil from the Ryugu asteroid. This discovery has important implications for future space missions and the colonization of other planets. TASS reports this with reference to the Yomiuri newspaper.
Researchers from Okayama University carefully analyzed soil samples returned from the Ryugu asteroid in 2020. They discovered that this soil contains organic matter, silicon and amino acids. Based on this analysis, scientists created artificial soil in which they successfully grew buckwheat, lettuce and arugula. The buckwheat even bloomed, and the lettuce leaves reached normal size.
Scientists believe that their experiments will help create the technologies necessary for self-sufficiency of food for settlements on other planets.
