Moon Chickpeas Could Become Hummus for Future Lunar Astronauts
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have successfully grown chickpeas in simulated lunar regolith mixed with vermicompost and arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi. The study, published in Scientific Reports in March, found that dirt compositions with up to 75% simulated moon soil yielded harvestable chickpeas. The fungi helped reduce heavy metal absorption and improved plant resilience. The team is now testing whether the legumes are safe to eat and nutritious enough for astronauts. NASA plans to return humans to the moon in 2028, aiming for a sustained presence that will require local food production.
Key facts
- Chickpeas were grown in simulated lunar regolith enriched with vermicompost and arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi.
- The study was published in March in the journal Scientific Reports.
- Dirt compositions with up to 75% simulated moon regolith yielded harvestable chickpeas.
- The fungi colonized the soil mixture and reduced heavy metal absorption.
- NASA aims to put humans on the lunar surface in 2028.
- The team is testing whether the chickpeas are safe to eat and nutritious.
- Simulated moon dirt was obtained from a lab in Florida and is 99% compositionally accurate.
- Previous experiments in 2022 grew thale cress in real Apollo lunar regolith.
Entities
Institutions
- University of Texas at Austin
- Texas A&M University
- NASA
- Reuters
- Science News
- ABC News
- Houston Chronicle
- Smithsonian Magazine
Locations
- Moon
- Florida
- United States