Categories: Science

In a first, NASA scientists grow plants on soil brought back from the Moon!

<p>
For the first time ever, NASA researchers have grown the hardy and well-studied plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, in samples of the lunar surface material known as regolith,” the US space agency wrote on its Instagram page.</p>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdgzolqJSVI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by NASA (@nasa)</a></p>
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<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>
“In the early days of space age, Apollo astronauts collected regolith and brought it back to Earth where they could be studied with state-of-the-art equipment and saved for future research not yet imagined. Fifty years later, at the dawn of the @NASAArtemis era, samples collected on the Apollo 11, 12, and 17 missions have been used to successfully grow plants in the nutrient poor lunar regolith,” the statement said.</p>
<p>
“Scientists at the @UFlorida @UFIFAS_Solutions made the breakthrough discovery which started with two questions: Whether plants can grow in regolith, and second, how might that one day help humans have an extended stay on the Moon. With a resounding yes to the first question, the team hopes to go on to answer the second question as well, paving the way for future astronauts to someday grow more nutrient-rich plants on the Moon and thrive in deep space,” the statement added.</p>

IN Bureau

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