Scientists believe the smallest flowering plant on the planet could solve the problems of long-duration space missions.
For decades, humanity has been discussing the possibility of colonizing Mars and landing on the Moon again. However, long-term missions face a number of problems: Astronauts need to eat and breathe, which means they need a plant source, Science Alert writes.
The problem is that not all plants are created equal and therefore not all of them can survive in the harsh conditions of space. But there is still one plant on Earth that can grow during long space travel, and it is also the smallest flowering plant on the planet.
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We are talking about water flour, the size of which does not exceed 1 millimeter in diameter. This aquatic plant lives in water bodies across Asia, including Thailand, where researchers from Mahidol University tested it. The aim of the study was to test the durability of water flour under harsh conditions, especially extreme gravity.
According to Tatpong Tulyanand, lead author of the study, he and his colleagues wanted to model how plants respond to changes in gravity. Watermelon has no roots, stems and leaves, making it essentially a sphere floating in water; This means scientists can directly focus on the impact of gravity changes on growth and development.
If the facility is found to be able to withstand harsh conditions, it may well become a staple on future space journeys for astronauts. The biggest advantage of sea flour is that it releases a lot of oxygen through photosynthesis. Equally important is that the plant has significant nutritional value: it is rich in protein – as a rule, sea flour is used to prepare salads and soups.
To replicate zero-gravity conditions, the team used clinostats, devices that use rotation to counteract the force of gravity. This way they manage to simulate microgravity.
The first results of the research were very promising: Scientists found that sea meal grew by 1 gram in microgravity. The team then focused on understanding how water flour behaves in high-gravity conditions; They placed the samples in ESA’s Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC) in the Netherlands. Note that this centrifuge can spin at speeds of up to 67 revolutions per minute and has six chambers that can hold up to 80 kg each.
The team states that the water flour was spun in a centrifuge until it weighed 20 grams, then the plants were left to grow under artificial sunlight. Watermeal completes its entire life cycle in just 5-10 days, and so just a few weeks of experiments have actually provided scientists with data on several generations of plants.
According to Tatpong, they are currently working on plants, then the extracts will be converted into a solid form, which the researchers will take back to their lab and continue working on. The samples are also expected to be subjected to detailed chemical analysis to gain insight into the wide range of hypergravity responses caused by water bagasse.
More research will be needed, but the authors are optimistic about watermeal’s suitability for future space missions. Moreover, scientists state that by consuming water flour, astronauts will actually consume 100% of the plant, which is very promising in terms of space agriculture.
Previously Focus He wrote that 100 thousand euro orbiting “microwaves” should solve the problem of space debris.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.