Fungi May Unlock Martian Agriculture

Scientists have identified a promising approach to grow food on Mars and the Moon: using beneficial fungi to convert nutrient‑poor regolith into a crop‑supporting substrate. The microbes can mobilize hidden nutrients and shield plants from extreme temperatures, radiation, and low gravity. In laboratory tests, fungal inoculation improved plant growth on simulated Martian soil, suggesting a pathway toward self‑sustaining space farms. If scaled, this technique could reduce the need for Earth‑sourced supplies and enable long‑duration missions to the Red Planet.