China sprouts cotton plants on the moon

In a first for humankind, plants are growing on the surface of the moon, the South China Morning Post reports. Cotton, rapeseed, and potato seedlings have all sprouted inside a canister aboard China’s Chang’e-4 lunar lander, now parked on the far side of the moon. Yeast, fruit flies, and rock cress were also sent aboard Chang’e-4 as part of an experiment to investigate growth in low-gravity environments. The mission’s architects say the experiments could help lay a foundation for one day establishing a lunar base.