First green leaf on moon dies as temperatures plummet
The appearance of a single green leaf hinted at a future in which astronauts would grow their own food in space, potentially setting up residence at outposts on the moon or other planets. Now, barely after it had sprouted, the cotton plant onboard China’s lunar rover has died.
The plant relied on sunlight at the moon’s surface, but as night arrived at the lunar far side and temperatures plunged as low as -170C, its short life came to an end.
Prof Xie Gengxin of Chongqing University, who led the design of the experiment, said its short lifespan had been anticipated. “Life in the canister would not survive the lunar night,” Xie said.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday January 18 2019, @03:53PM (2 children)
Sure one can dwell underground after one arrives there, but that the appolo guys could SEE solar radiation with their eyes shut led them to develop cataracts far out of proportion to the general population
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 19 2019, @09:30PM (1 child)
How much is "far out of proportion"? All I've read about are increased risk of cataract. Many occupations do indeed have higher risks for some diseases. Oh, and while it is likely I don't think anybody has conclusively proven that light flashes seen by the astronauts were "solar radiation". (Especially since not all astronauts see them). Maybe I'm wrong.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday January 20 2019, @03:45AM
I expect those flashes are mostly protons.
Those are captured by the Earth's magnetic field; they spiral around the field's lines of force, then into the upper polar atmospheres.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]