Hopes for a colony on Mars took a step forward after scientists proved it was possible to grow edible¹ food in Martian soil for the first time.

殖民火星的希望向前迈进了一步:科学家首次证实在火星土壤上是有可能种出可食用作物的。

Researchers in the Netherlands have been attempting to grow crops in soils created to simulate conditions on the Red Planet and also the Moon. Scientists of Wageningen University And Research Centre, Wageningen, were concerned that even if food grew it would contain dangerous levels of metals which would be toxic² to humans.

荷兰研究人员一直在试图模拟月球和火星的土壤条件，进行农作物栽培实验。荷兰瓦赫宁根大学与研究中心的科学家们担心，即便种出了农作物，其重金属含量也可能会过高，从而对人类产生有害影响。

But experiments growing tomatoes, peas, radishes and rye proved that the crops were not only safe, but possibly healthier than those grown in Earth soil.

但事实证明，实验中种出的西红柿、豌豆、小萝卜和黑麦不仅安全，而且有可能比在地球土壤中种出的更健康。

"For radish, pea, rye and tomato we did a preliminary analysis and the results are very promising," says Dr Wieger Wamelink. "We can eat them."

韦格·瓦梅林克博士说："我们对小萝卜、豌豆、黑麦和西红柿进行了初步分析，实验的结果充满了希望。我们可以食用它们。"

Nasa has said that it wants to establish a Mars colony by the 2030s while the European Space Agency is hoping to return to the Moon even sooner. But if the plans are to be realised, astronauts will need to learn to grow their own food.

美国航空航天局表示，希望在本世纪30年代在火星建立殖民地。欧洲航天局则希望能更早重返月球。而实现这些计划，宇航员得学会自己种农作物。

The research showed that only radishes had high levels of aluminium³, iron and nickel. They also grew significantly less well in lunar soil. However scientists think that the problem may just be on the outside and washing away the soil would be enough to bring levels down and make them safe for eating.

研究显示，只有小萝卜的铝、铁和镍含量过高。小萝卜在月球土壤中的生长状况也更糟糕。不过，科学家们认为，问题可能只出现在小萝卜的表面，洗掉外层的土可能就足以使重金属含量降低，并可安全食用。

It is still unknown if the take up of heavy metals is the same on Earth as it would be under the lower gravity conditions found on Mars and the Moon. Only research ‘on site’ or in will give an answer.

现在不知道的是，重金属的占比在火星和月球这些重力较低的环境中是否还和在地球上一样。只有"实地"实验才能得出结论。

The researchers are now planning tests on green beans, rocket and spinach⁴ and potatoes and are due to carry out further testing on vitamins, flavonoids, and alkaloids in the crops.

研究人员现在打算对青豆、芝麻菜、菠菜和土豆进行实验，并对作物中的维生素、类黄酮和生物碱进行进一步的检测。