Scientists say they can grow tea on the Moon
Scientists have said that it might be possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil is good enough for tea plants to grow in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great British tradition of a tea break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm even in poor soil.
Professor Mason and his team investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments reveal that…plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree of [independence] and access to fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very encouraging, as they demonstrate that tea…can be grown in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in the Martian soil.
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Chat
Talk about these words from the article.
scientists / tea / the Moon / soil / plants / research / space / agriculture / astronauts / Mars / greenhouses / inhabitants / independence / fresh food / happy / project / grow
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True / False
1) Scientists have successfully grown tea on the Moon. T / F
2) Scientists say they are just beginning to look into space farming. T / F
3) Astronauts may one day be able to have an English-style tea break. T / F
4) The research may help farmers who farm in poor soil. T / F
5) The researchers looked at growing tea on five different planets. T / F
6) There could one day be greenhouses on the Moon. T / F
7) Scientists used real soil from the Moon. T / F
8) The test tea grew well in Moon-like and Marslike soil. T / F
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Discussion
1) What do you think of tea?
2) What do you think of growing tea on the Moon?
3) Would you like to eat food grown on the Moon?
4) What would it be like to be an astronaut?
5) What do you think of the idea of farms on the Moon?
6) Why is it important we learn more about space agriculture?
7) What do you think of the idea of having tea breaks?
8) How can we help farmers to grow better crops?
