15/01/2018 Researchers Grow Hops In Simulated Martian Soil, But Brewing Beer On Mars Is Still Far From Reality

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January 13, 2018

Researchers Grow Hops In Simulated Martian

Soil, But Brewing Beer On Mars Is Still Far
From Reality

The study comes less than two months after Budweiser's parent company announced
a broad plan to ultimately gauge if beer can be brewed on the Red Planet.

SCIENCE DISOBEYART / SHUTTERSTOCK

At the moment, it’s not even an absolute certainty that

humanity will make its way to Mars in the immediate
foreseeable future. But assuming space programs or even
private companies could send people to the Red Planet, it
Lorenzo
Tanos might not be a bad idea to celebrate the milestone by
cracking open a cold beer. In theory, that just might be
possible, if the results of a recent study are any indication.

As detailed in a report from the New York Times,

Villanova University professor Edward Guinan’s
astrobiology students undertook an ambitious project last MUST READS

semester, where they were asked to conduct experiments

to see which crops could grow in Martian soil and serve as Scientists Discover
a source of food for the planet’s potential human Massive Ice Sheets On
Mars, Opens New
inhabitants. In most cases, the students took the practical
route, attempting to grow soy beans, kale, and other
NASA’s Curiosity Rover
healthy crops, or herbs such as mint and basil to ensure Finds Mysterious ‘Stick-
that Martian meals are as flavorful as those served on Like Figures’ On Mars,

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15/01/2018 Researchers Grow Hops In Simulated Martian Soil, But Brewing Beer On Mars Is Still Far From Reality

Earth. One group, however, went with hops, which is best

Ingredients For Life
known as the grain used to make beer. Spotted In Ancient
Meteorites That Crashed

“Because they’re students, [they wanted to brew] Martian

beer,” quipped Guinan. Reports Suggest
Chocolate Might Go
Extinct By 2050, But
As no human being has actually gathered soil from Mars
and brought it home to Earth, Guinan purchased 100
pounds worth of crushed basalt from a volcano in the
Mojave Desert to serve as a simulated version of Martian
soil. According to the New York Times, crushed basalt was
previously found by scientists to be a “reasonably good
reproduction” of the soil samples gathered by NASA’s
Phoenix Mars lander and other spacecraft.

With the ersatz Martian soil in place, Guinan’s students

grew the plants inside a “small patch of a greenhouse” that
simulated reduced sunlight by means of a mesh screen.
Almost all of the crops involved in the study had done well
when the researchers added the mineral vermiculite,
which is usually blended with heavy and sticky soils on
Earth as a fertilizer. Cutup pieces of cardboard also
worked well, as Guinan surmised that astronauts probably
won’t be bringing vermiculite with them to Mars, but
would most likely have cardboard boxes handy. Likewise,
one team that grew carrots, scallions, and spinach in the
mock Martian soil saw their plants growing quickly when
they used coffee grinds as a fertilizer.

hanna
@serzchiktelucxy
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College students at Villanova University found that hops,
leafy greens, carrots and scallions all could grow in an Walmart Officials Plan To Cut Thousands Of
nytimes.com Jobs Through Store Closures, Automation

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Green Bay Packers: Bold Predictions For The

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The New York Times report did not state how well the
hops did in comparison to other crops involved in the ODD

study. But Guinan told the publication that mesclun, a

First UFO Sighting Of 2018 Captured In
combination of various salad greens, did “fabulous” in the Mexico — UFO Expert Claims Aliens Were
Spooked By SpaceX’s Zuma Launch
simulated Martian soil, even without the aid of any kind of
fertilizer.

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15/01/2018 Researchers Grow Hops In Simulated Martian Soil, But Brewing Beer On Mars Is Still Far From Reality
WRESTLING
The Villanova students’ attempt to grow hops as a
potential source for “Martian beer” comes a few months WWE Rumors: Vince McMahon May
Actually Sell WWE, And He Already Has A
after Budweiser manufacturer Anheuser-Busch InBev Potential Buyer
announced its plans to launch 20 barley seeds aboard a
CELEBRITIES
SpaceX rocket, with the goal of sending the seeds to the
International Space Station and seeing how well barley Michelle Obama In Bikini Top And Cut-Offs
— Pic Snapped As Malia And Mom Turn
grows in microgravity. While company officials stressed Heads On Miami Beach
that the longtime beer maker will “be there” if and when
humans get to colonize Mars, Time stressed that such
endeavors might come with their share of challenges, such
as not having enough free space aboard a space station to
grow enough barley to make a mere 20 liters of beer.

In addition to a possible lack of space, Time added that

anyone who plans to grow Martian beer would need to
have specialized, expensive equipment for the barley
grains to go through the malting process. Martian gravity
could also make brewing challenging, as this could result
in poorly carbonated, overly frothy beer.

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15/01/2018 Researchers Grow Hops In Simulated Martian Soil, But Brewing Beer On Mars Is Still Far From Reality

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