Recycled human waste could help grow crops on moon and Mars colonies

Researchers from multiple universities have developed a method to transform barren lunar and Martian regolith into fertile soil by combining recycled human and plant waste with simulated extraterrestrial soil. This process extracts essential nutrients such as sulfur, calcium, and magnesium from the otherwise inert minerals, making the soil suitable for plant growth. The study, led by Harrison Coker, highlights that organic waste will be crucial in generating productive soils for future moon and Mars colonies, enabling sustainable agriculture without reliance on Earth resupply missions. The team tested this concept using NASA’s Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLiSS), which converts synthetic wastewater into a nutrient-rich solution. When mixed with simulated lunar and Martian soil, this effluent chemically and physically altered the regolith, smoothing its abrasive particles and releasing vital nutrients. While the results are promising, further research is needed using actual lunar and Martian soil samples to confirm the approach’s viability. This work lays important groundwork for creating a closed-loop waste-to-fertilizer cycle essential