I read an article about 18 months ago which memtioned this. I emailed my question to NASA and the european space agency but received no reply. Is there any boffin out therte that could answer this please ?
2006-09-05 20:59:01 · 23 answers · asked by George G 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because aliens laugh at our puny human plums :D
2006-09-05 21:00:10 · answer #1 · answered by dj8t4 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's all down to gravity. Everything that lives or grows on Earth is adapted to life in a 1G environment. Take away that gravity and it will grow unrestrained, possibly to the point of it's own destruction. A plant that grows in zero g would probably be OK, but a plant growing in a lunar lab would still have a small amount of gravity acting upon it. If it grows too tall in a lunar environment it could collapse under it own weight and die off.
Even humans suffer in a low gravity living space. Many of our organs are suspended by ligaments and muscles, remove the gravity and those organs will be pulled higher up in the body than in normal gravity. This could cause problems in astronauts who have been a long time away from normal gravity. For example an astronaut going to Mars would be away for at least two years or more(6 months journey time, each way, at least 1 year waiting for Mars to be in a suitable position for a return journey), loss of regular activity would cause loss of calcium from bones.
This would mean time in a hospital recovering, getting muscle tone and strengthening bones. Spend too long a time away from Earth and you may never be able to return to 1G as it may prove fatal.
2006-09-09 11:21:58 · answer #2 · answered by colin.christie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The circulation of sap within the plants goes in two directions as wel all know it. Due to several forces the geometry of the plant and its biological structure generate.
Now the presence of gravity probably slows down the circulation of sap (obvious) and thus the lack of it makes its faster.
Gravity also has some unkown effects on plants which might influence the growth.
I also believe that the absence of seasons in space aslo serves as a factor that helps the plant grow faster. SInce its detecting mechanism doesn't work in space: it cannot detect any weather nor seasons.
Let's not forget that plants breath the carbon dioxyde it can find which is quite minor on earth. In space, ideal quantities of carbon dioxyde and illumination are provided, the same goes for the quantity of oxygen when the lights are off. (No night and day in space).
2006-09-05 21:13:02 · answer #3 · answered by BlackholeUSA 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As others have said gravity plus Cosmic Rays, we are protected from radiation emitted by the sun by the Earth's atmosphere but plants grown in space are saturated by radiation causing mutations, I know the chinese government are fond of growing these giant vegetables in the hope that some random genetic mutation may provide and much more productive variant of some crop.
2006-09-05 21:19:22 · answer #4 · answered by strawman 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The fruit is bigger but not any denser. If you had grown that piece of fruit on earth it would be the same mass just smaller and more elongated. The reason that they are fatter is beacuse they have to make sure that the pressure inside the fruit is not too big or it would burst. The reason that they are round is beacuse of lack of gravity.
2006-09-05 21:09:46 · answer #5 · answered by DaGetz 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
no gravity, on earth you have gravity plus the mass of all the air on top of it, caused by gravity pulling ti down too. thats why astronauts grow about 4 inches every time there in space
2006-09-06 02:53:42 · answer #6 · answered by shotgunsherriffs 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I found out that you get high-yield and high-quality plants when they are exposed to special environment such as cosmic radiation and micro-gravity. It seems that some seeds will mutate to such an extent that they may produce much higher yields and improved quality.
2006-09-06 01:46:43 · answer #7 · answered by zebedee 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's really wierd, cos if they do we could plant enough trees to provide us with 02 and live in space how cool would that be! I've never heard that and can only think it must be due to the chemical content in the soil or air, but surely they must be kept in a temperature controlled environment otherwise they'd never make it.
2006-09-05 21:01:29 · answer #8 · answered by emily_jane2379 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
gravity's not pushing down on them.
trevanionjonny, actually carbon monoxide in great quantities has shown to have a detrimental effect on plants.
2006-09-08 14:48:39 · answer #9 · answered by Lucy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they are reared in artifical environments.they are also gentitcally modified. since it is nasa that is growing them, they will also get high rich manure specially made by scientists. they have plenty of light , good conditions and nothing to do, so they will definetly get larger
2006-09-05 21:13:36 · answer #10 · answered by ammu 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Lack of gravity dude
2006-09-05 21:00:50 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋