Tag

Watermeal

All articles tagged with #watermeal

"Survival on Mars: Astronauts Turn to Earth's Smallest Flowering Plant"

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Space.com

Watermeal, the smallest flowering plant on Earth, could play a crucial role in sustaining future Mars astronauts. Scientists from Mahidol University in Thailand have been testing watermeal's growth and development under hypergravity conditions to simulate different gravity levels in space. Watermeal produces a significant amount of oxygen through photosynthesis and is a good protein source, making it a viable choice for space-based agriculture. Its short life cycle allows for quick study, and further chemical analysis will provide insights into its hypergravity response.

science space astronauts mars space space-exploration sustainability watermeal

"Watermeal: Earth's Tiniest Plant, Astronauts' Vital Lifeline"

Originally Published 2 years ago — by Phys.org

Researchers from Mahidol University in Thailand conducted experiments on watermeal, the smallest flowering plant on Earth, to study its growth and development under hypergravity conditions. Watermeal, which is smaller than duckweed, was subjected to 20 times normal Earth gravity using ESA's Large Diameter Centrifuge. The plant's ability to produce oxygen through photosynthesis and its potential as a nutritious food source for astronauts make it a promising candidate for space-based agriculture. The team aims to understand how watermeal adapts to different gravity environments and plans to conduct detailed chemical analysis on the plant's hypergravity response.

science science-and-technology hypergravity oxygen-production plant-growth science-and-technology space-agriculture watermeal