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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.
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First Green Leaf on Moon Dies as Temperatures Plummet
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The Official Colorado State Vegetable is now the "state legislator".
(Score: 3, Informative) by AssCork on Friday January 18 2019, @06:29PM (1 child)
Don't know WTF you're growing, but most plants require "shorter days" and a drop in temp to signal them that winter has arrived, and the inverse to trigger a "spring weather" response.
Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 18 2019, @08:58PM
I never regularly watched, but I have a vague memory of an old 1980's episode of Battlestar Galactica where one child is expressing his skepticism to another child that it would be possible to grow plants without a computer.
Maybe an AI could, by trial and error, learn the optimal light and temperature cycles to maximize growth / profits / food-supply.
The people who rely on government handouts and refuse to work should be kicked out of congress.