Episode Details

The Space Show Presents BRYCE MEYER, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025

Quick Summary

We initially focused on our Space Show program featuring Bryce Meyer discussing his upcoming book on space agriculture, which explores technologies and principles for growing food in space environments. The discussion covered various challenges of space farming, including plant adaptation, soil biomes, and the need for further research on growing crops to maturity in microgravity conditions. The conversation concluded with an examination of agricultural techniques for space colonization, including the use of bioreactors, mushrooms, and various animals for food production, while emphasizing the importance of certifying existing technology and addressing biological questions related to plants in different gravity regimes.

Detailed Summary

David hosted a Space Show program featuring Bryce Meyer, who discussed his new book “Designing Farms in Space” scheduled for release on January 2nd by Springer Publishing. The book aims to provide a comprehensive guide on technologies and principles for space agriculture, covering topics from biochemistry to farm system calculations. David announced upcoming programs for the month, including guests Manuel Cuba, Isaac Arthur, and Michael Lissner, and reminded listeners of their annual fundraising campaign. Former NASA Administrator Dr. Mike Griffin with be with us Tuesday evening, Dec. 23.

Bryce and David discussed the challenges and unknowns of growing plants in space, emphasizing the need to adapt Earth technologies while accounting for microgravity, different gravitational forces, and radiation. Bryce highlighted the lack of data on growing crops to maturity in space and the need for experiments to understand plant responses in these environments. They also touched on the potential impact of the space environment on plants, including chemical emissions from the structure and unknown factors like the moon’s magnetic field. David humorously asked about plant consciousness, but Bryce focused on the practical challenges and the importance of further research.

Marshall and Bryce discussed the adaptability of plants and the importance of a living soil biome for crop productivity. Bryce explained that while plants are highly adaptive, certain crop strains are specifically optimized for certain conditions. They explored the concept of transforming simulated lunar soil into a living soil biome, with Bryce mentioning research by Adam Williams on using red worms and manure to achieve this. Bryce also described the spectrum of growing methods from aeroponics to soil-based systems, highlighting the benefits of a full soil biome for plant resilience and nutrient availability.

Bryce discussed the development of space farming and agriculture, noting that while significant progress has been made, such as China’s 360-day closed-loop system with a crew of eight, there are still challenges. He suggested that dietary diversity and the inclusion of animals in the system could improve outcomes, as monotony and inadequate nutrition could lead to weight loss and decreased productivity. John Jossy and David explored the possibility of cultured meat in space, with Bryce warning about the risks of contamination in bioreactors, while suggesting tofu and other resilient crops as viable alternatives.

Bryce continued discussing various animals and plants suitable for space agriculture, including chickens, goats, mealworms, and plants for pharmaceuticals. He explained the challenges of shipping animals, particularly mammals, due to their sensitivity during long space journeys. Bryce also highlighted the existing market for vertical farming technologies, which could be adapted for space agriculture, and mentioned the need to test these technologies in different gravity conditions.

Our guest talked with us about the evolutionary model for Space Farm