ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Astronauts on the International Space Station will grow probiotic-rich broccoli

The return of the space veggies.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
May 30, 2018
in News, Space, Space flight
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Just because you’re in outer space is no excuse to skip your 5 a day.

Space veggies

Space food is not the most appealing thing in the world. Sure, it’s nutritious and it’s exactly what your body needs for those months away from Earth, but astronauts would still benefit from growing their own vegetables — especially for longer missions to the Moon or Mars.

It’s not the first time astronauts have considered growing vegetables in space — in fact, this has been done before by NASA, and the veggies have actually been eaten. Yes, they were reportedly delicious. Now, NASA wants to expand its range of space veggies, but growing plants in microgravity is not the easiest thing in the world: You need a carefully managed environment, a steady source of light, and even then, we don’t know if all plants will grow properly.

But we’ll learn soon enough.

Astronauts will start growing broccoli from six seeds that were placed aboard the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft that launched this week from Wallops Island, Virginia, as part of a space station cargo resupply mission. Three of the seeds are regular seeds, while the other three were coated with two different species of bacteria, developed at the University of Washington: beneficial bacteria called probiotics.

These probiotics are expected to help the plants grow in the unusual, nutrient-poor environment. The special bacteria belong to a class called endophytes, and are expected to help the plants better develop in micro-gravity.

RelatedPosts

New evidence suggests that probiotics are good for the liver
The 2,500-Year-Old Gut Remedy That Science Just Rediscovered
Researchers are adding probiotics to chocolate to make it even healthier
Prescribing fruits and veggies to children has lasting positive effects

“It would be ideal if we could grow crops for astronauts at the space station or who are lunar- or Mars-based without needing to ship potting mix or fertilizer,” said Sharon Doty, a UW professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and a plant microbiologist who isolated and characterized the microbes used in this experiment. “We would like to be able to get plants to grow in what is available with a minimum input.”

Growing veggies on the International Space Station is no easy feat.

Remarkably, the probiotic ensemble was developed by students at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, California, The 11 students carried out ground-based tests which were successful: the probiotic bacteria helped the plants grow bigger and faster than normal. It remains to be seen if the same will happen in space.

“It would be ideal if we could grow crops for astronauts at the space station or who are lunar- or Mars-based without needing to ship potting mix or fertilizer,” said Sharon Doty, a UW professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and a plant microbiologist who isolated and characterized the microbes used in this experiment. “We would like to be able to get plants to grow in what is available with a minimum input.”

Not just broccoli

The microbes are encapsulated inside a coating that protects the seeds. As the seeds sprout, a camera will monitor them and take photos at regular intervals of time.

While a number of different vegetables have already been grown in space, this is the first time probiotics will be employed for plant growth. After the plants will grow in outer space, they will be brought back to Earth, where Doty and the students will measure their growth and development.

Doty has worked on this project for more than ten years, and so far, results indicate that the probiotics could help plants of all kinds, helping them convert nitrogen from the air into essential nutrients for the plant and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizer.

This work is part of the UW Astrobiology Program. When the program was started 20 years ago, it was the first of its kind.

“This is the first step in what I hope becomes a really long-term research program to develop habitation on Mars and on the moon in a very efficient way using natural symbiosis instead of trying to bring chemical fertilizer to those environments,” Doty concluded.

Tags: probioticsvegetableveggies

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Home science

Researchers are adding probiotics to chocolate to make it even healthier

byAlexandra Gerea
2 months ago
Science

The 2,500-Year-Old Gut Remedy That Science Just Rediscovered

byMihai Andrei
5 months ago
Chemistry

Novel probiotics discovered in traditional Brazilian cheeses

byMihai Andrei
8 months ago
Human Body

The gut flora: how it affects your brain and health, according to scientists

byShiella Olimpos
2 years ago

Recent news

The Worm That Outsourced Locomotion to Its (Many) Butts

May 16, 2025

The unusual world of Roman Collegia — or how to start a company in Ancient Rome

May 16, 2025
Merton College, University of Oxford. Located in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

For over 500 years, Oxford graduates pledged to hate Henry Symeonis. So, who is he?

May 16, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.