Scientists grow plants on Moon soil
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Giant leap for space agriculture
One small pot of soil, one giant leap for man's knowledge of space agriculture. Scientists have for the first time grown plants in lunar soil brought back by astronauts.
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Soil from the Moon
For their experiment, the researchers used just a few teaspoons of soil collected from various spots on the Moon during the Apollo program. In tiny thimble-sized pots, they placed about a gram of soil and added water, then the seeds. They also fed the plants a nutrient solution every day.
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The plant that was grown
The researchers chose to plant arabidopsis thaliana - a relative of mustard greens). It grows easily and has been studied extensively. Its genetic code and responses to hostile environments -- even in space -- are well known.
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Plants sprouted and grew
The lunar samples sprouted within 2 days. But they grew more slowly than earth samples. The plants were harvested after 20 days, and DNA studies showed they had grown as if in a soil with too much salt or heavy metals. Scientists will look to fix that.
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NASA's future project
Why is this experiment so important? Because NASA is preparing to return to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, with a long-term goal of establishing a lasting human presence on its surface.
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Hope for the future
This unique experiment has given researchers hope that it may be possible to one day grow plants directly on the Moon. Lunar veggies, anyone?