Magnetic Forces Imitate Gravity: Guidelines for Growing Plants in Space

Achigo: A gelatinous substance derived from specific seaweeds, utilized as an ingredient and food source for cultivating bacteria.

Angle: The measure of space between two intersecting lines or surfaces, typically quantified in degrees.

Year: An adjective describing something that occurs annually. In botany, it refers to a plant that completes its life cycle within a year, often featuring vibrant flowers and producing numerous seeds.

Astronaut: An individual trained for travel to space for research and exploration purposes.

Cell: (in biology) The most fundamental structural and functional units of an organism. Cells are typically composed of a fluid-filled space encased by a membrane, and can be too small for the naked eye, resulting in animals comprising thousands to trillions of cells.

Clinostat: An apparatus designed to hold a Petri dish and rotate it at a predetermined speed.

Coil: A circular or spiral shape formed by winding materials, such as wire, around a core.

Crops: Plants cultivated intentionally by farmers, including varieties like corn, coffee, and tomatoes. The term can also refer to plants that are harvested for sale. In zoology, it describes throat-like structures in certain animals, enabling them to store food before returning to their nests.

Degree: (in geometry) A unit of angular measurement, with each degree representing one of the 360 divisions of a circle’s circumference.

Engineering: A discipline that applies mathematics and science to address real-world challenges. Professionals in this field are known as engineers.

Gel: A thick, viscous substance capable of flowing like a dense liquid.

Germination: The process by which seeds begin to grow and develop.

Gravity: The force of attraction exerted by any object with mass, drawing it toward other massive objects. The greater the mass, the stronger the gravitational pull.

High School: The educational stage in the U.S. for grades 9 through 12, where students complete necessary public education before potentially pursuing further studies at a university.

Hormone: (in zoology and medicine) Chemicals produced in glands and circulated through the bloodstream, controlling key bodily functions, including growth. In botany, hormones signal plant cells regarding growth, aging, and death.

Hypothesis: A proposed explanation for a phenomenon. In scientific contexts, hypotheses must undergo rigorous testing before validation or rejection.

Iron: A prevalent metallic element found in Earth’s crust and hot core, as well as in cosmic dust and meteorites.

Magnet: A substance, typically containing iron, that generates an attractive force toward certain metals due to the arrangement of its atoms.

Magnetic: The attractive force produced by the movement of a substance known as a magnet.

Microgravity: A condition where the force of gravity is significantly less than that experienced on the Earth’s surface.

NASA: The abbreviation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, established in 1958, that has played a pivotal role in advancing public interest in space research and exploration, including human missions to orbit and the moon, as well as robotic missions to study other celestial bodies.

Nutrients: Essential vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, or proteins that organisms require for survival.

Orientation: (v. Orient) The deliberate arrangement of an object’s position in relation to a cardinal direction (north, east, etc.) or a recognized landmark.

Petri Dish: A shallow, circular dish utilized for cultivating bacteria or other microorganisms.

Protein: A complex molecule composed of long chains of amino acids, fundamental to all living organisms. Proteins play critical roles within cells and contribute to the structure of muscles and tissues. They also perform essential functions, with examples including antibodies, hemoglobin, and enzymes.

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF): Initiated in 1950, this prestigious competition is one of three overseen by the Science Society. Every year, approximately 2,000 high school students from up to 70 countries and regions present independent research projects for a chance to win around $9 million in awards.

Seedlings: The initial stage of a plant’s development as it emerges from a seed and grows roots. Simulate: To mimic or replicate a form or function. For instance, simulated fats can trick the mouth into perceiving the taste of real fats, as they provide the same tactile sensation without calories. Similarly, simulated touch sensations can deceive the brain into feeling contact even when the actual hands are absent, replaced by synthetic limbs.