NASA's Saucy Discovery: Lost Space Tomatoes Found After 8 Months

Two rogue tomatoes, lost by astronaut Frank Rubio during the XROOTS experiment on the International Space Station (ISS), have been recovered nearly a year later. The experiment focuses on growing plants without soil or other growth media, which could be crucial for future space exploration missions. The tomatoes were found dehydrated and slightly squished but showed no signs of microbial or fungal growth. Plant research aboard the ISS continues with studies like Plant Habitat-03, which aims to assess genetic adaptations in plants grown in space across multiple generations. Growing plants in space not only provides food but also has psychological benefits for astronauts.