Food made in space - 6 Minute English
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Date: 2020-09-18
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Comments and reviews: 10
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Introduction
You are used to having your vegetables coming from agricultural land, but how about space? Listen to the programme to find out how growing plants in space might help develop crops which are more productive and more resistant to climate change here on Earth. Neil and Georgina discuss how plants can grow in environments with little or no natural light and teach you some related vocabulary along the way.
This week's question
What was the first food grown in space? Was it... ?
a) potatoes
b) lettuce
c) tomatoes
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
LED light
electronic device that lights up when electricity is passed through it - abbreviation of light emitting diode
wavelength
the distance between two waves of light which makes things appear to us in the different colours of the rainbow
photon
single unit of light
microgravity
weaker pull of gravity in space, making things float and seem weightless
plasticity
ability of a plant to adapt to and cope with changes in the environment by changing its biological structure
genes
chemicals and DNA in the cells of plants and animals which control their development and behaviour
Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Im Neil.
Georgina
And Im Georgina.
Neil
Last November Nasa launched a very unusual home delivery service a rocket carrying four tonnes of supplies to the ISS - the International Space Station.
Georgina
Among the scientific equipment were twelve bottles of red wine from the famous Bordeaux region of France.
Neil
The astronauts might have wanted a glass of wine with dinner, but the real purpose of the bottles was to explore the possibility of producing food and drink in space not for astronauts but for people back on Earth.
Georgina
In todays programme well be finding out how growing plants in space can develop crops which are more productive and more resistant to climate change here on Earth.
Neil
And well hear how plants can grow in environments with little or no natural light. But first, todays quiz question: what was the first food grown in space? Was it:
a) potatoes?
b) lettuce?, or
c) tomatoes?
Georgina
Well, in the film, The Martian, a stranded astronaut grows potatoes on Mars. I know its only a film but Ill say a) potatoes!
Neil
OK. Well find out the answer later. Now, you might be wondering how its possible to grow plants without natural light. British company Vertical Future has been working on this problem by developing indoor farming methods in partnership with Nasa.
Georgina
Heres their Head of Research, Jen Bromley, explaining the process to BBC World Service programme, The Food Chain.
Jen Bromley
Basically we use LED lighting and we use LED lights that are tuned to a specific wavelength. So, if you image what the rainbow looks like, the reason a plant looks green is because its not using all the green light it actually reflects a lot of that back. So the reason why it looks pink in here is because were actually only using red light and blue light to grow the plants, and that essentially tailors the light diet so that the plants look black when you look at them because theyre not reflecting any light theyre being super-efficient, theyre using up every photon that hits them.
Neil
The lack of natural light in space means that plants are grown using LED lights LED is an abbreviation of light emitting diode - an electronic device that lights up when electricity is passed through it.
Georgina
On Earth plants look green because they reflect back any light travelling at a certain wavelength - the distance between two waves of light which make things appear to us in the various colours of the rainbow.
Neil
But when scientists control the wavelengths being fed, plants are able to absorb every photon particle of light energy, making them appear black.
Georgina
Each particle of light that hits the leaves is absorbed and through photosynthesis is converted into plant food. Nasa found that different colour combinations, or light recipes, can change a plant's shape, size and even flavour.
Neil
But the lack of natural light isnt the biggest obstacle to growing food in space. Heres Gioia Massa, chief plant scientist at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, to explain.
Gioia Massa
Microgravity is really challenging but plants are amazing! They can adapt to so many different environments we call this plasticity because they can turn on or off their genes to really adapt to all sorts of conditions and thats why you see plants growing in different areas on Earth - the same type of plant may look very different because its adapting to the environment in that specific location.
Georgina
On Earth, plants use gravity to position themselves shoots grow up, roots grow down. But this doesnt apply in space because of microgravity - the weaker pull of gravity making things float and seem weightless.
Neil
Plants can only survive in these conditions due to their plasticity the ability of living organisms to adapt and cope with changes in the environment by changing their biological structure.
Georgina
Plants adapt themselves to being in space by manipulating their genes - chemicals and DNA in the cells of plants and animals which control their development and behaviour.
Neil
In the low-gravity atmosphere of space, plants become stressed but they adapt genetically.
Georgina
And as a result theyre stronger and more resilient to other, less stressful events when they return home to Earth.
Neil
Like those bottles of red wine orbiting Earth as we speak. The effects of microgravity on the wines organic composition will be studied and could hopefully offer solutions for growing food in Earths changing climate.
Georgina
So, Neil, if it wasnt red grapes, what was the first food grown in space?
Neil
Ah yes, in todays quiz question I asked what the first plant grown in space was.
Georgina
I said, a) potatoes.
Neil
But in fact it was b) lettuce - grown over fifteen months on the ISS, then eaten in fifteen minutes in the first ever space salad.
Georgina
Today weve been discussing the possibilities of growing plants in space using LED lights devices that use electricity to produce light.
Neil
The energy needed for plants to grow is contained in photons or light particles, travelling at different wavelengths distances between light waves which make things look different colours.
Georgina
Plants have evolved over millennia using the strong gravity on Earth. But this changes in space because of microgravity the weaker gravitational pull making things in space float and seem weightless.
Neil
Luckily plants use their genes the chemicals in DNA responsible for growth - to adapt to new environments by changing their biological structure a process known as plasticity.
Georgina
All of which makes it possible for astronauts to enjoy a glass of wine and green salad in space.
Neil
And genetically stronger plants specimens to study back on Earth.
Georgina
Thats all for today but join us again soon at 6 Minute English. Bye for now!
Neil
Bye!
reply
Introduction
You are used to having your vegetables coming from agricultural land, but how about space? Listen to the programme to find out how growing plants in space might help develop crops which are more productive and more resistant to climate change here on Earth. Neil and Georgina discuss how plants can grow in environments with little or no natural light and teach you some related vocabulary along the way.
This week's question
What was the first food grown in space? Was it... ?
a) potatoes
b) lettuce
c) tomatoes
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
LED light
electronic device that lights up when electricity is passed through it - abbreviation of light emitting diode
wavelength
the distance between two waves of light which makes things appear to us in the different colours of the rainbow
photon
single unit of light
microgravity
weaker pull of gravity in space, making things float and seem weightless
plasticity
ability of a plant to adapt to and cope with changes in the environment by changing its biological structure
genes
chemicals and DNA in the cells of plants and animals which control their development and behaviour
Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Im Neil.
Georgina
And Im Georgina.
Neil
Last November Nasa launched a very unusual home delivery service a rocket carrying four tonnes of supplies to the ISS - the International Space Station.
Georgina
Among the scientific equipment were twelve bottles of red wine from the famous Bordeaux region of France.
Neil
The astronauts might have wanted a glass of wine with dinner, but the real purpose of the bottles was to explore the possibility of producing food and drink in space not for astronauts but for people back on Earth.
Georgina
In todays programme well be finding out how growing plants in space can develop crops which are more productive and more resistant to climate change here on Earth.
Neil
And well hear how plants can grow in environments with little or no natural light. But first, todays quiz question: what was the first food grown in space? Was it:
a) potatoes?
b) lettuce?, or
c) tomatoes?
Georgina
Well, in the film, The Martian, a stranded astronaut grows potatoes on Mars. I know its only a film but Ill say a) potatoes!
Neil
OK. Well find out the answer later. Now, you might be wondering how its possible to grow plants without natural light. British company Vertical Future has been working on this problem by developing indoor farming methods in partnership with Nasa.
Georgina
Heres their Head of Research, Jen Bromley, explaining the process to BBC World Service programme, The Food Chain.
Jen Bromley
Basically we use LED lighting and we use LED lights that are tuned to a specific wavelength. So, if you image what the rainbow looks like, the reason a plant looks green is because its not using all the green light it actually reflects a lot of that back. So the reason why it looks pink in here is because were actually only using red light and blue light to grow the plants, and that essentially tailors the light diet so that the plants look black when you look at them because theyre not reflecting any light theyre being super-efficient, theyre using up every photon that hits them.
Neil
The lack of natural light in space means that plants are grown using LED lights LED is an abbreviation of light emitting diode - an electronic device that lights up when electricity is passed through it.
Georgina
On Earth plants look green because they reflect back any light travelling at a certain wavelength - the distance between two waves of light which make things appear to us in the various colours of the rainbow.
Neil
But when scientists control the wavelengths being fed, plants are able to absorb every photon particle of light energy, making them appear black.
Georgina
Each particle of light that hits the leaves is absorbed and through photosynthesis is converted into plant food. Nasa found that different colour combinations, or light recipes, can change a plant's shape, size and even flavour.
Neil
But the lack of natural light isnt the biggest obstacle to growing food in space. Heres Gioia Massa, chief plant scientist at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, to explain.
Gioia Massa
Microgravity is really challenging but plants are amazing! They can adapt to so many different environments we call this plasticity because they can turn on or off their genes to really adapt to all sorts of conditions and thats why you see plants growing in different areas on Earth - the same type of plant may look very different because its adapting to the environment in that specific location.
Georgina
On Earth, plants use gravity to position themselves shoots grow up, roots grow down. But this doesnt apply in space because of microgravity - the weaker pull of gravity making things float and seem weightless.
Neil
Plants can only survive in these conditions due to their plasticity the ability of living organisms to adapt and cope with changes in the environment by changing their biological structure.
Georgina
Plants adapt themselves to being in space by manipulating their genes - chemicals and DNA in the cells of plants and animals which control their development and behaviour.
Neil
In the low-gravity atmosphere of space, plants become stressed but they adapt genetically.
Georgina
And as a result theyre stronger and more resilient to other, less stressful events when they return home to Earth.
Neil
Like those bottles of red wine orbiting Earth as we speak. The effects of microgravity on the wines organic composition will be studied and could hopefully offer solutions for growing food in Earths changing climate.
Georgina
So, Neil, if it wasnt red grapes, what was the first food grown in space?
Neil
Ah yes, in todays quiz question I asked what the first plant grown in space was.
Georgina
I said, a) potatoes.
Neil
But in fact it was b) lettuce - grown over fifteen months on the ISS, then eaten in fifteen minutes in the first ever space salad.
Georgina
Today weve been discussing the possibilities of growing plants in space using LED lights devices that use electricity to produce light.
Neil
The energy needed for plants to grow is contained in photons or light particles, travelling at different wavelengths distances between light waves which make things look different colours.
Georgina
Plants have evolved over millennia using the strong gravity on Earth. But this changes in space because of microgravity the weaker gravitational pull making things in space float and seem weightless.
Neil
Luckily plants use their genes the chemicals in DNA responsible for growth - to adapt to new environments by changing their biological structure a process known as plasticity.
Georgina
All of which makes it possible for astronauts to enjoy a glass of wine and green salad in space.
Neil
And genetically stronger plants specimens to study back on Earth.
Georgina
Thats all for today but join us again soon at 6 Minute English. Bye for now!
Neil
Bye!
reply
Abdullah
NASA agency wasnt created to make a journey to the the outer space possible, but was created to complete the mission the high jump in Antarctica . Even the creator of NASA is a German scholar arrested by the American mission in Antarctica after America captured the German military base in Antarctica. His name was Dr Brown. And another thing is the Apollo mission to the moon , whats so funny about it is that the CEO of NASA left the agency just four days before the launch of the mission. Do you think that theres something Mysterious in all this .if you disagree with me or that you have a different version of all this , just leave your comment in the reply section
reply
NASA agency wasnt created to make a journey to the the outer space possible, but was created to complete the mission the high jump in Antarctica . Even the creator of NASA is a German scholar arrested by the American mission in Antarctica after America captured the German military base in Antarctica. His name was Dr Brown. And another thing is the Apollo mission to the moon , whats so funny about it is that the CEO of NASA left the agency just four days before the launch of the mission. Do you think that theres something Mysterious in all this .if you disagree with me or that you have a different version of all this , just leave your comment in the reply section
reply
Nawar
Hi. Well I don't find it useful
It costs lots of money that people living on Earth need to survive.
We can easily take care of our planet and reduce the amount of pollution that big factories around the world produce each second .
Earth can be revitalised by doing some easy steps, which cost much less money than planting or growing plants on other planets.
reply
Hi. Well I don't find it useful
It costs lots of money that people living on Earth need to survive.
We can easily take care of our planet and reduce the amount of pollution that big factories around the world produce each second .
Earth can be revitalised by doing some easy steps, which cost much less money than planting or growing plants on other planets.
reply
education
Today's topic is so interesting.
Space development is many purposes like origin of space, future life space and so on. It is important for us to solve these problems. To grow in space is so difficult , but I think we can find solution!
(I'm Japanese and English beginner. So if you have free time, Please reply the comment!)
reply
Today's topic is so interesting.
Space development is many purposes like origin of space, future life space and so on. It is important for us to solve these problems. To grow in space is so difficult , but I think we can find solution!
(I'm Japanese and English beginner. So if you have free time, Please reply the comment!)
reply
Heeva
-Growing without natural light or little light (LED LIGHT)
-grows pink or red instead of green because green color is the cause of natural right but LED light can produce different color.
-you can adapt plants to environment by manipulating genes.(plasticity)
-first food grown in space is lettuce.
-genetic.
reply
-Growing without natural light or little light (LED LIGHT)
-grows pink or red instead of green because green color is the cause of natural right but LED light can produce different color.
-you can adapt plants to environment by manipulating genes.(plasticity)
-first food grown in space is lettuce.
-genetic.
reply
Анжелика
Amazing science!) so many things are still not explored. Steady growing population and a lack of food, also the climate change send us a challenge. I would like to try some plants from space. I wonder how it will taste.
reply
Amazing science!) so many things are still not explored. Steady growing population and a lack of food, also the climate change send us a challenge. I would like to try some plants from space. I wonder how it will taste.
reply
education
Great video! This is amazing how human mind lusts for new worlds to be discovered. Weve made such a great effort over the decades to conquer space. And now food made in space? Wow!
reply
Great video! This is amazing how human mind lusts for new worlds to be discovered. Weve made such a great effort over the decades to conquer space. And now food made in space? Wow!
reply
MISSION
Thanks for getting me aware with these amazing facts. I've a question that's '' when phone has no charge then we tell it was discharged. What should we use when it has no recharge.
reply
Thanks for getting me aware with these amazing facts. I've a question that's '' when phone has no charge then we tell it was discharged. What should we use when it has no recharge.
reply
Guangkai
Why do most of plants look green? That's because plants do not absorb green light from white sun light, so the green light is reflected to the viewers.
reply
Why do most of plants look green? That's because plants do not absorb green light from white sun light, so the green light is reflected to the viewers.
reply
life
Very nice it will be more better if add subtitles it will be helpful for beginner like memy English is very poor sorry if I,ve mistake in grammar
reply
Very nice it will be more better if add subtitles it will be helpful for beginner like memy English is very poor sorry if I,ve mistake in grammar
reply
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