In 1984, NASA sent 12.5 million tomato seeds into orbit for nearly six years. After their return, 132,000 experiment kits were distributed across every US state and 30 countriesIn 1984, NASA sent 12.5 million tomato seeds into orbit for nearly six years. After their return, 132,000 experiment kits were distributed ...
15 Sep, 2026, 11.40 AM IST
In 1997, Japanese researchers flew silkworm eggs on STS-84 to study spaceflight effects; developmental abnormalities were more frequent in the flight samplesSilkworm eggs revealed developmental abnormalities in early space experiments. Later, the Rad Silk investigation examined cosmic radiation'...
14 Sep, 2026, 01.30 PM IST
Venus has a deadly heat blanket that Mercury never had. Why the planet farther from the Sun became the hottest world in our solar systemMercury is closer to the Sun, but Venus is the solar system's hottest planet. Venus possesses an extremely dense carbon dioxide atmosphere ...
12 Sep, 2026, 07.35 PM IST
Penn State measured a green roof during a June 2002 heat spell; its membrane peaked near 30°C, while the uncovered roof surface climbed to nearly 70°CGreen roofs present a remarkable solution for enhancing temperature control in urban environments, effectively lowering surface temperature...
11 Sep, 2026, 02.20 PM IST
In 2004, ESA grew rocket seeds on the ISS with André Kuipers; after four days, dark-grown seedlings were taller and yellow, while lit ones stayed smaller and greenA 2004 space project involving astronaut Andre Kuipers and schoolchildren explored plant growth factors. Thousands of students participated...
11 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
How did an ‘impossible’ photon survive 2 billion light-years? Scientists point to a transformation involving axion-like particlesAn extremely energetic photon from GRB 221009A has puzzled physicists. This photon traveled over two billion light-years to reach Earth det...
10 Sep, 2026, 08.40 PM IST
Chicago planted a 20,300-square-foot green roof on City Hall; EPA says its surface can be about 100°F cooler than nearby conventional roofs and saves nearly $5,000 in energy each yearChicago's City Hall green roof demonstrates substantial cooling and energy savings. This innovative rooftop garden reduces surface temperat...
09 Sep, 2026, 02.10 PM IST
In 2005, ESA exposed two kinds of lichen to space for 14.6 days; both remained metabolically active and recovered after returning to EarthIn a groundbreaking experiment, two lichen species, Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans, showcased extraordinary durability by s...
05 Sep, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
In 1984, NASA left Bacillus spores in space for nearly 6 years; after LDEF returned to Earth, 1–2% of the exposed spores were still aliveDuring an extensive six-year voyage aboard the LDEF satellite, soil bacteria spores demonstrated remarkable resilience, surviving the rigor...
05 Sep, 2026, 01.10 PM IST
In 2015, Japan exposed bacteria outside the ISS for 3 years; some clumps survived, while thicker ones were estimated to last longerJapanese researchers launched the resilient bacteria Deinococcus into orbit aboard the International Space Station. Remarkably, these micro...
05 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1966, NASA launched Biosatellite I with 13 biology experiments and more than 10 million organisms; its retrorocket failed, and the spacecraft was never recoveredIn 1966, NASA's Biosatellite I mission attempted to carry over ten million organisms into orbit, but a retrorocket malfunction led to the c...
04 Sep, 2026, 01.40 PM IST
In 1967, NASA flew flour beetle pupae on Biosatellite II for 45 hours; radiation and weightlessness raised wing abnormalities in flight from 29.9% to 44.8%During the 1967 Biosatellite II mission, flour beetles displayed notable wing deformities, underscoring how weightlessness amplified the ad...
04 Sep, 2026, 01.30 PM IST
In 1992, NASA studied C. elegans worms exposed to space radiation on IML-1; the experiment reported higher mutation rates than in ground controlsIn 1992, micro worms unveiled the troubling effects of space radiation on DNA, showcasing considerable genetic harm to these minuscule crea...
04 Sep, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
In 1947, the military sent fruit flies 67 miles into space to test radiation risks. 11 years later, NASA was founded in 1958, with animal flights underway in America now1947 mission was part of a larger American effort to understand whether living organisms could survive the journey into space. Beginning in...
03 Sep, 2026, 08.59 PM IST
In 2010, NASA launched a 12-pound, loaf-of-bread-sized satellite with two Bacillus populations; radiation exposure reached about 15 times that of the ISS orbitNASA's O/OREOS mission embarked on an exciting journey to observe how bacteria withstand the rigors of space radiation. The compact satelli...
02 Sep, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
In 1967, Biosatellite II irradiated parasitic wasps for 2 days in orbit; females later laid as many eggs as controls, and hatchability remained excellentA 1967 NASA mission sent parasitic wasps into orbit around Earth. These wasps showed surprising resistance to radiation damage while in spa...
02 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1990, NASA recovered tomato seeds after nearly 6 years on LDEF; classroom tests found space seeds germinated at 73.8% versus 70.3% for Earth controlsAfter nearly six years aboard NASA's LDEF satellite, Rutgers tomato seeds returned to Earth to inspire young scientists. Millions of studen...
01 Sep, 2026, 07.00 PM IST