Growing Plants on the Moon May Be Feasible

Smivs writes "European scientists say that growing plants on the moon should be possible. Scientists in the Netherlands believe growing plants on our sister satellite would be useful as a tool to learn how life adapts to lunar conditions. It would also aid in understanding the challenges that might be faced by manned bases. 'The new step, taken in the experiments reported at the EGU, is to remove the need for bringing nutrients and soil from Earth. A team led by Natasha Kozyrovska and Iryna Zaetz from the National Academy of Sciences in Kiev planted marigolds in crushed anorthosite, a type of rock found on Earth which is very similar to much of the lunar surface. In neat anorthosite, the plants fared very badly. But adding different types of bacteria made them thrive; the bacteria appeared to draw elements from the rock that the plants needed, such as potassium.'"

Comments

Re:Very careful--only one chance

[JK_the_Slacker]

Did you just say that the moon is a harsh mistress?

Re:and of course...

[hansraj]

But that would involve *going* to the moon which anyone with a brain knows is impossible.

The next Cheech and Chong movie...

[Anne_Nonymous]

Cheech: "Sounds like the perfect place to grow some reefer, man."

Chong: "Like wow man, the pigs would never think to look on the moon, man."

Re:and of course...

[hansraj]

So you are one of those nutcases that don't believe that we actually landed on moon? Only people with severe psychological disorders believe that crap.

Wait.. why do you have my nick?

Re:terraforming recapitulates phylogeny?

[caffeinemessiah]

Scientists in the Netherlands, believe growing plants on ou...

Look, if anyone knows anything about growing plants under unfavorable conditions (soil if not legal), it would be the Dutch. Looking forward to new strains like "Even More Northern Lights", "Earthly Glow", ...

had to be said too.

Re:Air?

[jellomizer]

Hmmm. Planting earthworms on the Moon... Moon Worms... After countless years, they will evolve better resistance to low pressure to a point where it can survive in a vaccume, resistant to full radiation from the sun, and collect all the materials it needs O2 and Water from the ground. Flurisning in this environment it will soon learn to use some of the excess gasses it digegest as a form or propulation, grow larger and larger until it reaches huge sizes where in order for them to survive they must eat moons and planets and fly to other systems in hibernation. To feed on other solar systems... Man you guys just doomed the galixy.

Give peas a chance...

[Anonymous Coward]

...that's all I'm saying...

Re:Air?

[Frigid Monkey]

So I guess that moon weed is some good stuff huh?

He he ...

[gstoddart]

Scientists in the Netherlands, believe growing plants on our sister satellite would be useful as a tool to learn how life adapts to lunar conditions.

*laugh* Oh, those wacky Dutch. Trying to start a grow-op on the moon.

I for one welcome our new lunar based, wooden shod, pot growing overlords, and anticipate the weed that is truly out of this world.

I think that's a good sign for lunar exploration -- brothels and legalized drugs will make space attractive for much more of the population. :-P

Cheers

Re:Very careful--only one chance

[jollyreaper]

We may only get one chance to do this right. If we introduce a bacteria that can survive without artificial shelter (doubtful, but possible), it's there forever. Many of the problems we've had here with invasive species has been due to things introduced intentionally that ended up doing things that weren't anticipated. Holy shit, you're right! Just think of the impact an escaped bacterium could have on the lunar ecology.