Image: UGA Geology Ph.D. Student, Laura Fackrell, is first author on the publication 'Development of Martian regolith and bedrock simulants: Potential and limitations of Martian regolith as an in-situ resource' has appeared in the journal Icarus. The article summarizes the mineralogy of Mars surface materials and details the development of Mars soil and surface material simulants for agricultural studies. The simulants are being used in agricultural studies that emphasize both the potential for Mars soils to grow plants along with the very real limitations that have yet to be overcome, which is trying to address the feasibility of actually being able to use Mars regolith to grow plants. The photo shows one of the plants growing in her artifical light "green house" located at the UGA J. Phil Cambell Sr. Research and Education Center DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114055
