Astronauts' Moon Diet Solved? Chickpeas Thrive in Lunar Soil, New Hope for Space Food

• Texas University scientists successfully grew chickpeas in moon-like soil, offering a solution for astronaut food on NASA's Artemis II mission.
• Lunar soil, or 'lunar regolith', lacks organic material and contains toxic metals, posing a significant challenge for plant growth.
• Scientists used vermicompost and coated chickpea seeds with Arbuscular Mycorrhizae fungus, which draws nutrients and blocks toxic metals.
• Chickpeas grew successfully in soil mixtures with up to 75% lunar soil; fungus-treated plants survived longer and the fungus adapted to the environment.
• Future research, as stated by Jessica Atkin of Texas A&M University, will focus on the safety, taste, and nutritional value of these chickpeas for astronaut consumption.