Scientists Grow Edible Crops In ‘Martian Soil’- Mars Colonies Draw Closer

The Futurism website reports that a team of scientists have successfully grown healthy, edible crops in soil developed by NASA to emulate Martian terrain. The Dutch team have grown radishes, peas, rye and tomatoes in an experiment that has been running since 2013. All the food has proved healthy, safe to eat, and free from the dangerous levels of metal scientists feared Martian soil would create. 

The experiment brings the prospect of human colonisation of Mars closer – according to Futurism, "NASA plans to bring humans to Mars in the next 10 to 15 years." Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Dutch company Mars One are also independently planning on how to get men onto the Red Planet sooner rather than later. 

Wageningen, the team who have grown the plants, are currently Crowdfunding further soil tests, watch a video discussing it below.