Furthermore, the use of sage might be an unbelievable resource when executing long distant space travel in the near future, but first, we need to understand how plants grow in such extreme environments. Plant growth in space has been a very stimulating debate for many scientists for generations. Plants have the ability to develop morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical alterations in order to adapt to factors such as light intensity. Salvia officinalis can accurately regulate its metabolism toward solar radiation conditions and it can adapt to different light environments. This means that when exposed to the extreme conditions on board the ISS sage plants can rapidly adapt to those minute shifts that occur. The study done by
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officinalis on board the International Space Station would not inhibit the growth of the plant in any way. In fact, studies have shown that the only differences that are present in plants, due to microgravity on the ISS, would be the direction in which the roots and stems grow since there is no gravity to guide them. With the elimination of solar radiation, S. officinalis will most likely grow without the green color that most plants have when exposed to a light source. NASA conducted an experiment with middle school students for ten days with plants. They experimented with plant growth in space and on Earth found that the plants in space were confused when it came to growing in zero gravity, so the steams grew in circles. The plants that were grown low light conditions in space did not have the green color normal plants had, however, the plants that were exposed to light in space were able to show green pigmentation in their roots (Dunbar, 2016). Even though plant growth is minimally affected by the absence of gravity that doesn’t mean that bacterial growth won’t be affected as well. A research analysis team from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute lead by Cynthia Collins decided to test the behavior of bacteria in space. The team sent Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the International Space Station and after three days the samples were returned to Earth which gave Cynthia and her team time examine the P. aeruginosa using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. The results showed that the bacteria were grouped into a column-and-canopy structure, called biofilms, not previously observed on Earth. These new forms of bacteria colony growth have unknown potential when it comes to human health. The effects of zero gravity can reduce the danger of some bacteria or visa verse. To understand the effects of bacteria such as E. coli in space would allow us to better foresee the dangerous situations that could occur on longer missions further away from Earth (Dunbar,
officinalis on board the International Space Station would not inhibit the growth of the plant in any way. In fact, studies have shown that the only differences that are present in plants, due to microgravity on the ISS, would be the direction in which the roots and stems grow since there is no gravity to guide them. With the elimination of solar radiation, S. officinalis will most likely grow without the green color that most plants have when exposed to a light source. NASA conducted an experiment with middle school students for ten days with plants. They experimented with plant growth in space and on Earth found that the plants in space were confused when it came to growing in zero gravity, so the steams grew in circles. The plants that were grown low light conditions in space did not have the green color normal plants had, however, the plants that were exposed to light in space were able to show green pigmentation in their roots (Dunbar, 2016). Even though plant growth is minimally affected by the absence of gravity that doesn’t mean that bacterial growth won’t be affected as well. A research analysis team from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute lead by Cynthia Collins decided to test the behavior of bacteria in space. The team sent Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the International Space Station and after three days the samples were returned to Earth which gave Cynthia and her team time examine the P. aeruginosa using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. The results showed that the bacteria were grouped into a column-and-canopy structure, called biofilms, not previously observed on Earth. These new forms of bacteria colony growth have unknown potential when it comes to human health. The effects of zero gravity can reduce the danger of some bacteria or visa verse. To understand the effects of bacteria such as E. coli in space would allow us to better foresee the dangerous situations that could occur on longer missions further away from Earth (Dunbar,