, Sept. 26 -- Researchers are exploring whether beneficial fungi could help make the harsh soil-like material on the Moon and Mars suitable for growing crops, potentially reducing the need to transport food from Earth.

The idea may sound like science fiction, but scientists in the United States and Brazil are already studying how fungi could support agriculture beyond Earth. In a recent review published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, researchers examined how these microorganisms could help turn lunar and Martian regolith into a more suitable environment for plants.

Making Martian soil more suitable for crops

Lunar and Martian regolith lacks several nutrients essential for plant growth. The researchers particularly focuse...