Last January, scientists with Germany’s space agency started an experiment in Antarctica to test how people might grow vegetables in space. They recently harvested their first batch of veggies!
The researchers built a greenhouse in Antarctica to mimic the conditions that astronauts would face on the moon or on Mars, such as extreme cold. The plants get their nutrients from a liquid mixture instead of soil. Special LED lights replace sunlight—a key ingredient for photosynthesis, the process by which plants make their own food. Filters keep the air free from bacteria so the plants don’t get sick.
The crops included radishes, salad greens, and cucumbers. How did they taste? “Like ones grown in a normal garden,” says study leader Paul Zabel.