One Giant Leaf For Mankind. China Sprout seeds on the moon

While the rest of the world thinks that adding two pictures taken 10 years apart can be considered a "challenge" there's another part actually doing something to further our knowledge and break new ground in the world of science and technology.

We've officially confirmed life on the moon so to speak with a small green shoot growing on the moon after a cotton seed germinated onboard a Chinese lunar lander.

One small sprout for man, one giant leaf for mankind.

It may sound and from the photos not really look like a big achievement but this could have major ramifications years down the line as this space race only seems to be getting warmed up.

Humans are starting to see space as a viable option and billions of dollars are being poured into the next frontier so to speak. What was once concepts confined to the minds of science fiction novelists is slowly becoming a reality and I must say to me this is one exciting prospect.

For many of us, we missed out on the excitement of the moon landings in 69 and what an achievement that was for humankind. I mean there is still controversy surrounding it and many believe it never happened.

How is growing seeds on the moon possible?

Researchers from Chongqing University — who designed the ‘mini lunar biosphere’ experiment —sent an 18-centimetre (seven-inch) bucket-like holder holding air, water, and soil.

Inside are cotton, potato, and Arabidopsis seeds—a plant of the mustard family—just as fruit fly eggs and yeast. Pictures sent back by the probe demonstrate a cotton sprout has grown well, yet so far none of the other plants has taken.

Plants have been grown previously on the International Space Station, but this is the first time a seed has sprouted on the moon. The ability to grow plants in space is seen as crucial for long-term space missions and establishing human outposts elsewhere in the solar system, such as Mars.

The little space sprouts in action

What does this mean for space travel?

While I realise my enthusiasm borders on that of science fiction I really think this is a proof of concept for future biodomes that will not only aid in creating sustainable food and oxygen sources for interplanetary travel but eventually be the concept that we base our first interplanetary outposts on.

Being able to grow your own feed and create or supplement oxygen over time at scale could be key to life on planets not as ideal as that of earth and instead of having to terraform planets to suit our needs we can create a synthetic environment to buy time as we look to learn more about the places we will soon call home.

Once we've collected enough data without the pressure of limited resources we can start to take steps that could see terraforming as a possibility. If these thoughts don't get you excited in some way shape or form then I don't know what to tell you, go post selfies instead.

Have your say

What do you think of the space race? Will we be an interplanetary species soon? How far do you think technolgy can take us? Let me know in the comments!

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Sources:

• BBC
• Tribune
• Techexplorist
• Dailymirror
• The Guardian