Can Cotton be grown on the Moon?
We might be able to wear a t-shirt made of cotton grown on the moon in the near future!
On January 3rd, China's Chang'e 4 touched down on the moon to explore its far side. Since then, the China National Space Administration has said that seeds taken on Chang'e 4 have sprouted and the cotton seeds had grown buds!
The Chang'e-4 lander is designed to test photosynthesis and respiration and one of the challenges scientists are facing is to keep the temperature that is favorable for growth. Prof Xie Gengxin, the experiment's chief designer said, "Learning about these plants' growth in a low-gravity environment would allow us to lay the foundation for our future establishment of space base" and that cotton could eventually be used for clothing while the potatoes could be a food source for astronauts and the rapeseed for oil. Some have raised the question of whether the experiment risks "contaminating" the Moon as there are already nearly 100 bags of human waste on the Moon left behind by the Apollo astronauts.
Chang'e 4 moonseed
Will the space exploration and scientific experiments such as this change the face of fashion?
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