Kōkihi: Could New Zealand Spinach Feed Astronauts on the Moon or Mars?
Could kōkihi, New Zealand’s native spinach, help feed future astronauts on the Moon or Mars? Discover how this remarkable coastal plant’s tolerance to salt and water stress makes it an intriguing candidate for space agriculture, and explore the scientific questions we need to answer before taking it beyond Earth.
Mark Rocket: From Aotearoa to the blackness of space
Mark Rocket, the first New Zealander to reach space, shares the experience of launch, weightlessness and seeing Earth against the blackness of space. He also discusses sustainability, aerospace careers and why students should take action to follow their ambitions.
Hot Life in Antarctica: A new extremophile discovered at the edge of fire and ice
What can a microorganism living in Antarctica’s volcanic sediments teach us about life beyond Earth? Quite a lot, it turns out.
Witnessing the birth of a new solar system for the first time
Astronomers have, for the first time, witnessed the very beginning of a planetary system forming around a distant star. Using the combined power of the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA, researchers observed hot minerals just starting to solidify around the baby star HOPS-315. These earliest stages of planet formation tells about what our own Solar System may have looked like over 4.5 billion years ago. This discovery is a major leap for astrobiology, as we are trying to understand how the conditions for life might emerge elsewhere in the Universe.
World Space Week 2021
World Space Week 2021 is about women in space. We interviewed the Executive Director of the World Space Week Association, Maruška Strah who explains what the event is about and how can you participate.
AHiS 2021 – How to fertilise your seeds
What to feed to your basil plants (aka fertilisers) and what has that got to do with stars.
AHiS 2021 – What to measure for your school project
When you submit a report or a poster you get in the draw to win a planetarium visit to your school and some other awesome prizes.
AHiS 2021 – How to grow your basil
Give your basil plenty of warmth and light.
It grows well in a warm environment, with the optimum temperature being 22 to 30 degrees Celsius. Keep it well lit when growing it indoors, for instance under fluorescent lights in the room or place the container closer to a desk light.
AHiS 2021 – The first 5 days of space basil
The first five days of the space basil went great, the plants are healthy and grow well.
AHiS 2021 – Setup your own plant growth chamber on Earth
How to set up your own growth chamber for your seeds, at your school on Earth.