According to scientists, lunar leeks and carrots may be even healthier than Earth-grown produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers discovered that the stress of growing in alien soil increases levels of defensive chemicals found in superfoods like blueberries and kale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 12 soil samples from the Apollo 11, 12, and 17 lunar landings, the scientists developed thale cress, a little blooming plant related to cauliflower and broccoli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The experiment is being approved for the first time because the five-decade-old moon scrapings are considered “important national treasures.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After adding fertilizer, water, and light, all of the seeds sprouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the thale cress is edible, it is a long way away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s incredibly fantastic news that plants can thrive in lunar soil,” stated Florida University professor Robert Ferl. Demonstrating that plants can grow in lunar soil is a significant step toward our goal of establishing lunar colonies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NASA wants to return to the moon in 2025 as part of its Artemis mission, and the breakthrough was published in the journal Communications Biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The plants that were responding the most strongly to what we would term oxidative stress reactions\u2026 they became purple,” said space biologist Prof Anna-Lisa Paul. That’s the same substance found in dark red and purple fruits, which are beneficial to humans due to their anti-oxidant characteristics.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
According to scientists, lunar leeks and carrots may be even healthier than Earth-grown produce. Researchers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":16439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[663],"tags":[734],"class_list":["post-16438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-food"],"yoast_head":"\n