Exploring the Impact of Space Radiation on Seeds
Plants and the Environment- Grade:
- 6
- Teacher:
- Kelly Smith
Time in space exposes seeds to higher levels of cosmic radiation, including solar and galactic cosmic rays. These rays are more intense in space than on Earth because space lacks the protection from the magnetic field and atmosphere. High exposure to radiation can cause mutations by damaging DNA. Arabidopsis seeds flown in space have shown increased mutation rates, which can alter the way the plant grows i.e. changes in plant traits like leaf shape or flowering time. Knowing this about Arabidopsis seeds, what effects might the space environment have on Tomato seeds? In partnership with First the Seed Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2008 by the American Seed Trade Association, our class was provided two packs of seeds for each of the 6th-grade classes. Each pack is marked with a letter- Seed Set A & Seed Set B. One package contains the "control" seeds (untreated) and the other package the “experimental” seeds (treated), which were flown to space, spending a month of time aboard the International Space Station. We will not know which pack went to space until after the completion of the project.
This is a world-class middle school science project. By participating in a double-blind study with NASA-affiliated seeds, you have stepped into the role of real-world research scientists. Your data management across six classes was impeccable, and your ability to link germination rates to cosmic radiation shows a deep grasp of space biology. I was particularly impressed by your explanation of how ionizing radiation can alter DNA blueprints. Whether Set A or Set B turns out to be the space travelers, you have successfully contributed to the body of knowledge needed for humans to one day live among the stars. Outstanding work!
Your project is a fantastic example of the engineering design process in action! I am so impressed by your decision to pivot from a cardboard box to a water jug when you realized the first design wasn’t holding heat, that is exactly what professional engineers do. Your ‘Spiced-up’ design using sponges for humidity and a mix of heat sources shows you really understood the biology of what an egg needs to survive. Reaching that 100°F goal after so many setbacks is a huge success. You’ve created a low-cost solution that could truly help small communities. Excellent work!
Awesome and well-thought-out project! Your work was presented clearly, and the graphs illustrating your results were excellent. Very well executed—kudos!