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Scientists say they can grow tea on the Moon

Tea on the Moon - Level 0

Researchers say we could grow tea on the Moon. They said they were "at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture". This might mean astronauts could take part in the British tradition of having a tea break. It could also be good news for farmers who have problems growing plants in bad soil.

The researchers wanted to know if plants could grow on the Moon and Mars. They made a special soil like the soil found there. The soil and special greenhouses in space could give astronauts fresh food. A researcher was happy that tea might be grown on the Moon. However, she said tea might not grow on Mars.

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Tea on the Moon - Level 1

It might be possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers believe the Moon's soil is good enough to grow plants. They said: "We are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture." This might be good news for astronauts. They could take part in the British tradition of having a tea break. He said they could have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers worldwide who have problems growing crops in bad soil.

The researchers wanted to know if tea plants could grow on the Moon and Mars. Special greenhouses in space would give astronauts some independence "and access to fresh food". The researchers used a special soil like the soil found on the Moon and Mars. A researcher was happy with the results of her tests. She said it showed that tea can be grown on the Moon. However, she said the tea plants did not grow in the Mars-like soil.

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Tea on the Moon - Level 2

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It might be possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from a UK university believe the lunar soil is good enough to grow plants. The lead researcher said: "We are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture." He added that it was good news that astronauts could take part in the British tradition of having a tea break. He said they would be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers who have difficulty growing crops. The researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm even in poor soil.

The research team looked into whether tea plants could grow on the Moon and Mars. They said plants like tea may be grown in greenhouses. This would give astronauts some independence "and access to fresh food". The researchers planted tea in a special soil like the soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Another researcher was happy with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very encouraging, as they demonstrate that tea…can be grown in lunar soil." She said that sadly, the tea plants did not grow in the soil like that on Mars.

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Tea on the Moon - Level 3

Scientists have said that it might be possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil is good enough for tea plants to grow in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great British tradition of a tea break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm even in poor soil.

Professor Mason and his team investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments reveal that…plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree of [independence] and access to fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very encouraging, as they demonstrate that tea…can be grown in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in the Martian soil.

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