EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — How are astronauts going to grow their food when they’re in space? It’s a question that Michigan State University scientists are asking, and one that they’re growing closer to answering.
“We sent seeds to space, to go around the moon and come back,” said Dr. Federica Brandizzi, MSU Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology.
Dr. Brandizzi’s research team at MSU sent the genetically modified seeds into lunar orbit in November of 2022.
“This was really trying to break new frontiers, and we were really curious what would happen to seeds. Could they maintain their viability,” Brandizzi said.
Well, the seeds are back from their trip around the moon–and her team of researchers has been able to analyze how they were affected by space flight.
The team sent a mixture of genetically modified and unmodified seeds. Dr. Brandizzi told 6 News that the seeds that were unmodified prior to blast-off, came back and grew just fine.
Which is a revolution, in and of itself.