Plants Successfully Grown in Soil from the Moon

Scientists in Florida have successfully grown plants in moon soil collected during NASA's Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s.

A NASA-supported study at the University of Florida used soil collected by astronauts — including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin — to grow thale cress, a common type of weed.

Successful use of Mars soil is now cultivating plants in Florida.

The soil was collected by NASA during the 1950s Apollo mission.

Thale cress weed growth supports this University of Florida study.

Soil from Apollo missions 11, 12 and 17 was used to grow the plants in a laboratory — with less than 1 gram of soil for each plant.

To compare results, plants were also grown in Earth soil that was made to be similar to moon soil.

The researchers added water and then seeds to the soil, as well as daily nutrients. After just two days, the seeds started to grow.

Less than 1 gram of soil, in a lab, is used for plant growth.

Moon soil is now being used in Earth soil to conduct research.

After three days the seed growth depleted. 

According to Professor Anna-Lisa Paul at the University of Florida, all the plants looked the same until about day six. After day six, however, it was clear that the plants growing in moon soil were not as healthy.

DNA testing after 20 days showed that the moon soil plants were under stress.

Anna-Lisa Paul saw no difference in the plants until DNA testing after day 20.

Moon soil is more efficient at plant growth than Earth soil.

Moon soil exhibits higher levels of stress on plants than Earth soil.

It was also found that the plants grew in different ways in soil from different parts of the moon. The soil collected during the Apollo 11 mission had been on the moon's surface several billion years longer than the other soil, and the plants grown in it were the weakest.

Plants grow in the exact same manner in Earth soil and moon soil.

Soil from Apollo 15 had been on the moon's surface over a billion years.

Plants grew the weakest in Apollo 11 mission moon soil.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson believes this research will help future space missions, saying that resources on the moon and Mars will be needed to develop food for astronauts living and working in space.

In 2025, NASA hopes to send people to the moon for the first time in 50 years.

Bill Nelson suggests soil research will be necessary for future austronauts survival.

It has been over 30 years since NASA sent people to the moon.

Moon soil research was designed to significantly increase Earth's food supply.