Growing crops in space has a few obvious benefits, all which mirror plants’ usages here on Earth. They serve as a great source of food, yes, but they can also help recycle the carbon dioxide that the astronauts exhale into their environment. Finally, they can turn human waste into food. All of this is (often) taken for granted here on Earth, but with the limited resources found in the inky blackness of space, plant life could be a complete game-changer. The plants are grown hydroponically, meaning they are grown in nutrient-enriched water (without soil).