Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31704: Zapping Growth: How Electric Fields Influence Plants in Space

The NanoRacks-Valley Christian High School experiment on the effect of electric fields on plant growth explores an intriguing question: can electric fields enhance or hinder plant development in microgravity? As part of ISS Expeditions 47/48, this student-led project tested how seeds and young plants respond to controlled electric fields in the space station’s unique environment.

Electric fields are known to influence cell division and elongation on Earth. But in space—where gravity is no longer the dominant force—the rules may change. Students hypothesized that electric fields might either stimulate growth more efficiently or introduce stress factors that alter normal development.

The experiment involved growing plants in a miniaturized, controlled habitat aboard the ISS. Electric fields of varying strengths were applied, and the responses were documented through photographs, growth measurements, and cellular analysis. By comparing these results to Earth-based controls, students identified differences in root directionality, stem elongation, and leaf formation.

Understanding how electric fields interact with biological tissues in microgravity has implications for space farming. Future lunar or Martian greenhouses may harness these fields to optimize yield or control plant morphology.

This high school-led research not only contributed to agricultural science but also inspired students to engage with complex scientific instrumentation and analytical techniques.

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