EEUU: Researchers studied which type of potato could grow in space

A group of scientists have headed to the Pampas de La Joya Desert in southern Peru – where soil conditions are similar to those on Mars – to find out, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Researchers at the International Potato Center (yes, this really exists) teamed up with NASA to study what type of potato could be supported on Martian soil if humans someday colonize the red planet.

Scientists sunk 65 varieties of spuds into the ground that are known to be most resilient, WSJ reports.

Walter Amoros, a Peruvian scientist at the International Potato Center, told WSJ that the potatoes would not likely grow in open air, and have to be planted in domes, like in “The Martian.”