Boffins grow plants in alien soil for first time in bid to farm on the Moon
dailystar.co.ukScientists have grown plants in alien soil for the first time - but they look far from out of this world. The experts produced thale cress - a member of the mustard family - from seeds planted in earth collected from the Moon during the Apollo 11, 12 and 17 missions.Though the veg grew in the lunar soil it took ages - and looks distinctly unappetising.The extraterrestrial plants were smaller, took longer to develop and showed signs of stress including stunted roots and colour changes.Boffins still hailed it a breakthrough and the first small step in what could be a giant leap for human space exploration - suggesting man may one day farm on the Moon.Professor Robert Ferl, who led the project at the University of Florida, US, said: "When humans move as civilisations we always take our agriculture with us.
Read more on dailystar.co.uk
