Hungry For“Space Gardens”

As humanity sets their sights on deep space exploration，the moon becomes a step- ping stone，with countries hoping to build lunar bases to support such missions.To solve the “l(fā)unch”problem，scientists have been explor- ing the possibility of growing plants on the moon.

A new study by Chinese scientists has found that bacteria in soil from Earth could of- fer a solution.

Researchers from China Agricultural Uni- versity tested five species of bacteria on a mate- rial that simulated lunar soil.Within a period of 10 to 21 days，three of the bacteria species had doubled their amount of phosphorus con- tent，a key element for plant growth.

They then grew model plants in the lunar soil simulant containing these three bacteria species.They observed that the plants had longer stems and roots after six days of growth compared with those grown without the bacte-

隨著人類將目光投向深空探索，月球成 為了一片理想的試驗(yàn)田。各國(guó)希望在此建 立基地以完成相關(guān)任務(wù)。為了解決“午餐” 問題，科學(xué)家們一直在探索在月球上種植植 物的可能性。

一項(xiàng)來自中國(guó)科學(xué)家的新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，地 球土壤中的細(xì)菌可以提供解決方案。

來自中國(guó)農(nóng)業(yè)大學(xué)的研究人員在月壤 模擬物上測(cè)試了五種細(xì)菌。磷是土壤中含 有的一種植物必需的營(yíng)養(yǎng)元素。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)， 在 10 至 21 天內(nèi)，其中三種細(xì)菌將植物可利 用的磷含量增加了一倍。

隨后，研究人員在經(jīng)這三種細(xì)菌處理后 的模擬月壤中播種了實(shí)驗(yàn)?zāi)Ｊ街参铩?天后 他們觀察到，相比在沒有接種細(xì)菌的普通月 壤模擬物中生長(zhǎng)的植物，實(shí)驗(yàn)中的植物莖部和根部更長(zhǎng)。種植24天后，這些植物還長(zhǎng)出

ria.The plants also had heavier and wider clus- ters of leaves after 24 days of growth.Besides， levels of chlorophyll—responsible for harvest- ing energy from light—in the model plants were about double that of those grown without bacteria.

“The study results have important implica- tions for future long-term stays on the moon”， the study’s lead researcher，Sun Zhencai，told Xinhua.Earth bacteria may help astronauts make better use of lunar resources，such as cre- ating lunar greenhouses.In their follow-up re- search，they hope to experiment with real lunar soil samples and grow crops like rice，corn and potatoes.

Since the duration of space missions is in- creasing，carrying all food supplies to space be- comes unsustainable.Hence，“space planting” becomes critical.

During the Shenzhou XI mission，astro- nauts managed to grow lettuce，from sowing to harvest.In the later missions，the“space farm- ers”have successfully grown wheat，rice and thale cress，according to CCTV News.

The most recent visitors to China’s space station，the Shenzhou XVII astronauts，are now growing lettuce，scallion and cherry tomato. These“space gardens”not only provide astro- nauts with food but also more oxygen and wa- ter.

了更寬、更重的葉簇。此外，種植24天后，這 些植物的葉綠素含量（負(fù)責(zé)從光中吸收能 量）也比沒有細(xì)菌的對(duì)照模擬物中的植物增 加一倍。

項(xiàng)目負(fù)責(zé)人孫振才告訴新華社記者，這 項(xiàng)研究結(jié)果對(duì)未來人們長(zhǎng)駐月球具有重要 意義。地球的細(xì)菌 可以幫助航天員更好地 利用月球資源，例如建造月球溫室。在后續(xù) 研究中，他們希望能在真實(shí)的月壤中開展實(shí) 驗(yàn)，種植水稻、玉米、土豆等農(nóng)作物。

隨著航天員執(zhí)行太空任務(wù)的持續(xù)時(shí)間 不斷增長(zhǎng)，將所有食品補(bǔ)給帶到太空變得不 再可行。因此，“太空種植”就變得至關(guān)重 要。

在神舟十一號(hào)任務(wù)期間，航天員成功實(shí) 現(xiàn)了生菜從播種到收獲的種植全過程。據(jù) 央視新聞報(bào)道，在后來執(zhí)行任務(wù)期間，“太空 農(nóng)夫們”已經(jīng)成功種植了小麥、水稻和擬南 芥。

最新進(jìn)駐中國(guó)空間站的神舟十七號(hào)航 天員現(xiàn)在正在種植生菜、大蔥和櫻桃番茄。 這些“太空菜園”不僅為航天員提供食物，還 提供更多的氧氣和水。

選自《21世紀(jì)英文報(bào)》