Mars presents a barren surface. Its regolith offers no easy path to crops. Fine volcanic dust lacks organic matter. It holds toxic perchlorates. Nutrient levels sit near zero. Yet a new review suggests Earth fungi hold answers. Researchers examined species already known for tough environments. They propose introducing select fungi to regolith simulants. The goal remains straightforward. Turn dead dust into something plants can use. Results could reshape planning for long-term bases. From Hostile Dust to Living Substrate Regolith on Mars and the Moon shares clear shortcomings. High alkaline pH dominates. Aluminum and manganese concentrations rise to harmful levels. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium appear almost absent. Perchlorates add another layer of toxicity that damages plant tissues. Without intervention, seeds fail quickly. But fungi act as natural engineers. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences published the review on April 17, 2026.…