Cotton Seedlings Sprout on the Moon but later Die
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The article, “Here’s how China’s Cotton Sprouts died on the Far Side of the Moon” was so interesting.
Onboard China’s lunar lander, the Chang’e-4, were the first botanical explorers- “cotton sprouts.” These little plants actually poked up from the dirt inside the mini biosphere. Amazing! It is hard to believe that they survived the space launch, the long journey to the moon, growing in low gravity and high radiation! However, the plants did die. It is probably because temperature fell to 62 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (and even possibly to 292 degrees Fahrenheit!)
A great first attempt to see how we might adapt to living in a location other than planet Earth! My question to other educators is, "What sort of activities do you do concerning finding life/ or adapting to life on other planets?"I don't remember how I found this activity, but I have used it for my 7th grade class as we begin our unit on life science (cells, etc...) It might be of interest to you as well. My kids really thought it was neat!
https://marsed.asu.edu/sites/default/files/stem_resources/Is_it_Alive_MS_Lesson_2_16.pdf -
It's odd to me that they would have sent cotton, a plant that doesn't handle cold well, without installing some sort of device to stabilize the temperature in the biosphere. I wonder what the other plant seeds in the experiment were...
Have you ever used the octopus in discussions about what aliens might be like? They have kept scientists baffled for a very long time. For example:
-they have 3 hearts
-they have 9 brains
-the brain in each tentacle can act independently, while the other brains are engaged in other activities
-they are the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth
-they use tools
-they learn from observing one another and other animals
-they problem solve
-their blood is based on copper, rather than iron
-they are incredibly ancientAlthough there are plenty to choose from, here's a video I watched yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G6eH1KDl0sGet the impression I like octopuses?
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@Jeanine-Gelhaus BioEd Online by Baylor Collge of Medicine has a good lesson on How Does Microgravity Affect Plant Growth?
http://www.bioedonline.org/lessons-and-more/lessons-by-topic/plants-form-function/how-does-microgravity-affect-plant-growth/ -
@Christine-Girtain
Thanks so much for that resource!
I will certainly check that out.
