Cress seeds grown in moon dust raise hopes for lunar crops

Scientists planted thale cress seeds in moon dust brought back by three Apollo missions. Photograph: Tyler Jones/UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

The prospect of growing crops on the moon has edged a little closer after researchers nurtured plants – some more successfully than others – in lunar soil for the first time.

Scientists planted thale cress seeds in moon dust brought back by three Apollo missions and watched them sprout and grow into fully fledged plants, raising the potential for astronauts to farm off-world crops.