In an exciting twist for space exploration, it seems that tea plants can flourish on the Moon!
The University of Kent’s researchers have discovered that when tea saplings are planted in lunar-like soil, they can grow surprisingly well. They compared these plants to those in Earth soil and found that the lunar environment supported growth just as effectively.
However, tea saplings subjected to soil designed to imitate Mars fared poorly, failing to sprout at all. To illustrate, Dr. Sara Lopez-Gomollo, a plant biology lecturer at Kent, eagerly stated, “This project’s results are promising, showing that tea cultivation is viable using lunar soil.”
Dr. Lopez-Gomollo continued, emphasizing their next focus: better understanding how these plants thrive in that difficult environment, with hopes of transferring these findings to a wider range of crops.
This research opens up thrilling possibilities as we think beyond simply sending astronauts to the Moon and start to consider how to make it liveable. It paves the way for long-duration space missions.
It’s crucial to know that moon soil, known as regolith, is very distinct from Earth soil. It’s made up of rocky fragments and abrasive glass, and it lacks essential nutrients required for plant growth, such as water, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
The dust is so gritty that it actually caused wear on the space suits worn by Apollo astronauts.
Previously, scientists didn’t think any plants could survive in this harsh lunar dust until 2022 when a group at the University of Florida successfully grew cress in soil brought back from the Moon.
Genetic testing of the lunar cress revealed that they altered their biology to cope with extreme conditions by activating dormant genes designed for surviving in high-salt or metal-rich soils.
Plants exposed to the intense conditions near Tranquility Base faced the biggest challenges, battling the harsh lunar stuff while trying to grow.
The recent tea-growing experiments provide a sense of optimism about the future of “space agriculture,” offering the potential for astronauts to cultivate their own food instead of relying on heavy supplies.
Professor Nigel Mason, head of the School of Physical Sciences, noted, “We’re heading into a new era where settling in space will become a reality. One of the first questions you’ll ask is, ‘What are we going to eat?’ These findings suggest that growing Earth crops, like tea, in lunar greenhouses could allow inhabitants a greater level of self-sufficiency and access to fresh food.”
We’re still at the dawn of space agriculture research, but it’s promising to think that one day we could preserve the cherished British tradition of a refreshing tea break, even in outer space.
This research also extends its influence back to Earth by shedding light on how plants adapt to survive severe environments and poor soils—abilities that might become essential as our planet continues to warm.
Dr. Lopez-Gomollo hopes that what’s learned from growing plants in extreme extraterrestrial settings could help enhance crop resilience right here at home.
The team is set to present their enlightening findings at Europe’s inaugural space agriculture workshop in Bratislava, Slovakia, this week.
