dark, the corn roots grew in random directions. The roots of the soybean seeds also grew in
random directions (Levine 2001).
Examination of the seeds after their stay on ISS revealed that the nutritional and epidermal
layers of the space exposed seeds were more porous than those of the ground-based control
seeds. This might allow nutrients to disperse through the seeds more quickly and explain the
faster germination and growth rates observed in the space-exposed seeds.
A total of 750,000 students across the United States participated in the experiments, growing
corn and soybean seeds in their classrooms to compare their results with the results from the
station and participating in live broadcasts.
PUBLICATION(S)
Levine HG, Norwood KL, Tynes GK, Levine HL. Soybean and corn seed germination in space: The
first plant study conducted on Space Station Alpha. 38th Space Congress, Cape Canaveral, FL;
April 30-May 4, 2001; 181-187.
This investigation is complete and all results are published.