The first seeds on the moon begin to sprout!

People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), published on Tuesday on its Twitter page a photo showing the growth of cottonseed in the moon wearing a distinctive title: "Completing the first experience Biological of humanity on the moon. "

The Chinese 4, who landed on the dark side of the moon on January 3, carried the seeds of several species of plants to the moon, placed in a sealed metal box containing potato seeds, cottonseed, Arabidopsis, Drosophila and yeast. .

The plants produce oxygen and nutrients for other living things, while the black fruit fly is consumed and the yeast acts as a solvent that will generate the carbon dioxide needed for plant photosynthesis.

This feat is a huge step forward in the colonization of space, the first time that biological material is grown on the moon, and the successful planting of plants on the moon will make the idea more practical. existing can serve as a basis for the exploration of Mars, which means that humans can be sustainable in the space without need Replenish the land.

Many asked if the experiment was likely to pollute the moon, but experts believe that it is also unlikely that Apollo astronauts left more than 100 bags of human waste on the moon.

"We have taken into account future survival in space, and an increased knowledge of these plants in a low gravity environment will allow us to lay the foundation for a future space base," said Professor Xie. Jingxin, chief designer of the experience, in the South China Morning Post.

"After Chang 4, China will launch (6 Shang) to collect samples from the South Pole of the Moon," said Wu Yanhua, vice president of the China Aerospace Science Center. (Chang & # 39; e 7), which will lead to a thorough exploration of the South Pole of the Moon, including its terrain, physical composition, its space environment and finally the Chang & # 39; e 8 mission, which will lead explorations preliminary steps towards the joint construction of a future research base on the Moon. "He said.