[meteorite-list] Allende, the new drug of 2005?

From: Darren Garrison <cynapse_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Mar 21 13:24:59 2005
Message-ID: <acsp31djh5erckalbm7bds1u0hf06rt3q2_at_4ax.com>

On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 21:41:24 -0500, Darren Garrison <cynapse_at_charter.net> wrote:

>Actually, that sounds like a really interesting experiment: take a meteorite. Pound it to dust.
>(Nothing rare, hopefully). Plant a seed in the dust and water it with distilled water. See if the
>seed manages to grow. I'd like to see that experiment done. (Maybe even do it with more than one
>type of stony-- a ordinary chondrite and a carbonaceous, for example). Heck, I'd try it myself with
>a small piece of 869, but I don't have the type of equipment I'd need to fully powder it.

interesting article found via google:



http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_150096.html

Vegetables show the way to life on Mars

Scientists in New Zealand have successfully grown the first vegetables in Martian soil.

The tiny asparagus and potato plants were grown in soil taken from Martian meteorites which landed
on Earth thousands of years ago.

The scientific breakthrough raises hopes that humans may one day be able to colonise the Red Planet.

Lincoln University chemistry research professor Dr Michael Mautner has carried out the
vegetable-growing experiments in soil taken from the Dar al Gani 476 meteorite which was found in
the Sahara Desert in Libya in 1998, and the Murchison meteorite discovered in Australia in 1969.

Dr Mautner says the Martian soil showed surprisingly high levels of phosphate, ideal for growing
healthy vegetables, the New Zealand Herald reports.

He is now convinced that one day, humans will live on Mars. Dr Mautner said: "If we build colonies
in space we will have to grow plants for food so obviously we need to know the soil can support
that.

"Everyone knows the future is out there in space, so it's exciting. Space-based soils could
potentially support future human expansion in the solar system. I wouldn't say very soon, but in a
few centuries."
Received on Sat 19 Mar 2005 10:45:15 PM PST


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