A subsequent analysis showed the plants activated stress genes akin to those seen in plants exposed to harsh conditions, such as salty water.
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The researchers concluded that the lunar soil could be used for plant production and experiments on the moon but is “not a benign growth substrate,” as the study put it.
“I think it’s amazing that the plant still grew,” Ferl said. “Right, it’s stressed, but it doesn’t die. It doesn’t fail to grow at all. It adapts.”
The experiment is encouraging for NASA and other space agencies that hope to be able to support human missions on the moon’s surface by taking advantage of natural resources.
“The idea of bringing lunar soil into a lunar greenhouse is the stuff of exploration dreams,” Ferl said. “If you look back at science fiction, plants have always been part of the deep exploration agenda.”
Eden the moon is not. The radiation-baked surface is essentially sterile. Lunar soil contains some familiar elements, including iron and magnesium. But it lacks many of the minerals found on Earth. And the soil has a different, harsher texture: lots of tiny, sharp shards. It contains microscopic pieces of glass left over from meteorite impacts. You wouldn’t want to breathe it.
But the plants germinated, and grew, and for a few days looked really quite verdant before they seemed to figure out that they did not like growing in soil not of this Earth. And their roots did not grow straight like the roots from seedlings planted in simulated lunar soil that served as the control substance for the experiment.
“The roots were more bent and gnarly,” Paul said.
Still, she said, the plants would be edible.
“It is edible, but it’s not especially tasty. It’s not considered a food crop per se,” she said of thale cress. The plant was picked in part because it has been so thoroughly studied previously, including on missions to the International Space Stations.
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No one is claiming that the moon could someday be green. But plants could be genetically engineered to be more adaptable to lunar soil. And if scientists want to do greenhouse-based experiments involving plants on the lunar surface, they would have an easier time if they could use the soil lying around rather than trying to blast it off the surface of the Earth.
Jacob Bleacher, chief explorations scientist for NASA, said missions to the moon and, someday, to Mars will require using resources on-site rather than hauling everything from Earth.
“As we think about sending astronauts to the moon, eventually out into the solar system, and other destinations like Mars, we have to learn to live off the land as we do that,” Bleacher said.
Sharmila Bhattacharya, NASA program scientist for space biology, said there’s more work to be done to make plant cultivation a useful tool in lunar exploration. And she noted that plants are already cultivated on the International Space Stations and serve more than simply a nutritional function. The astronauts, she said, like being around the plants. They check on the plants in their spare time.
“It really surprised us how much they love those plant habitats,” she said. “When they celebrate each other’s birthday, they do it near the plant habitat. We’ve realised how much of a positive difference plants have made.”
Paul said she and Ferl watched the Apollo missions as children and that played a role in their decision to go into science. Handling the lunar samples was an emotional experience for them, she said. And she was definitely careful with the samples.
“You’re handling the national treasure in your hand,” she said. “Don’t sneeze.”
The Washington Post
Plants grow in lunar soil brought to Earth by Apollo astronauts
Source: Philippines Alive
