A 'Martian' First: Earthworms Born in Mock Mars Soil

Space.com ^ | December 4, 2017 07:00am ET | Doris Elin Salazar, Contributor |

[BenLurkin]

Illustration of potential appearance of a closed agricultural ecosystem on Mars.
Credit: Wageningen University and Research Centre

[Tax-chick]

I’m underwhelmed with the achievement of growing worms in manure-enriched soil. They didn’t even get actual soil from Mars, just a knockoff.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Tonight's feature on Monster Chiller Horror Theater is The Giant Brain-Sucking Mutant Earthworms From Mars.

[Red Badger]

There’s pig manure on Mars?...........Well at least it’ll be off limits to muzzies................

[ClearCase_guy]

NASA-made Martian soil simulants — made from volcanic terrestrial rocks — and pig manure

Kind of reminds me of the old joke about the scientist who told God that we were now so advanced that we could make life out of nothing, just like Him.

"Show me", says God.
The scientist bends down and scoops up some dirt and starts to put it in a beaker.
"Hold on!", says God. "Get your own dirt!."

If you need pig manure to have worms born in Martian soil, then I don't see what you are accomplishing.

[Rio]

Requires Martian pigs to work...

[Magnum44]

The researchers also found that the holes that worms dig in the soil aerate the mixture and improve the soil's structure, making it easier for water to penetrate the soil and nourish plants.

Seriously, they just found this out? My parents, grand parents, and their ancestors must now be elevated from simple farmers to future prophets.

[Rio]

Works for potatoes, too...

[rjsimmon]

True Martian soil is biologically inert. There are no microbes and no possibility of life taking hold. It would take decades to introduce enough fertilizer and microbial life before even the possibility of the first shoot of plant life could be hoped for.

[caligatrux]

Let’s just launch a rocket full of earthworms, bugs, and various and assorted life from extreme conditions on earth, and send it up to Mars. See what happens.

[DannyTN]

Yes, but the plan to use pig manure may keep the planet terrorist free.

[DoodleBob]

I don't think this'll work in practice. Property rights are universal.

[gunnyg]

For those who can “grok” it!

;)
++++++++++++++++++++

[phormer phrog phlyer]

Read an article about this a couple of years ago, potatoes would not grow in Martian soil due to sulfur issues. Way to much in solution.

[BuffaloJack]

Who knew there would be pig manure on Mars?
Does this imply that Mars is off limits to muslims?

[mountainlion]

Silly me, I thought worms were hatched not born

[Buckeye McFrog]

Hank, we're transferring you to Mars. It appears there is now a job for a County Agent there.

[I want the USA back]

Good, but it’s not Mars. Planning to colonize Mars?

[Daniel Ramsey]

Just genetically splice worms with Old Spice and turn Mars into a Dune planet.

[DugwayDuke]

caligatrux wrote: “Let’s just launch a rocket full of earthworms, bugs, and various and assorted life from extreme conditions on earth, and send it up to Mars. See what happens.”

You’ll never get all the environmental permits.