Science is Fun Fridays!
Back in 2019, China's Chang'e 4 lander planted cotton seeds on the lunar surface, (but not in lunar soil).
It only took a couple weeks for the plant to sprout, marking the first biological experiment on the moon.
But additional study was needed to determine if lunar crops are less productive or more fragile than those on Earth. And now, two new papers suggest that the plant may actually prefer low gravity.
By comparing growth in replicated conditions on Earth, they found the less gravity speeds up germination. There also seemed to be no issue with the long lunar night, which can drop to -61* and last about 18 days - the plant was still green and upright when light returned. Back on Earth, the plants died.
The researchers suspect the low gravity triggered a freezing resistance some polar plants have developed.
The lander also planted rapeseed, potato, and rock cress - none of which took.
Experiments on the International Space Station have already shown that plants don't need gravity to grow, or bear fruit. But there temperatures were regulated, so this ability to overcome the cold is a very important revelation.
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