These Nigerian seeds have been to space. Now scientists are studying the impacts

Could Nigeria’s beloved egusi seeds fuel the next generation of astronauts? That’s what space scientists wanted to discover. Searching for an alternative to the ultra-processed, freeze-dried meals astronauts currently rely on, they sent the seeds into space. Now, after 7 days in orbit, the seeds will be studied to see if they’d be suitable space grub - and for genetic changes that could make them more useful to farmers on Earth. This process is known as space-breeding, or space mutogenesis - the practice of flying seeds into space in the hope they’ll pick up genetic changes that make them more resistant to drought, heat or pests. China’s second-most common wheat, the drought- and disease-resistant Luyuan 502, was developed this way. The economy around space tech - such as satellites and exploration - is forecast to soar to $1.8 trillion by 2035, creating value for nearly all industries on Earth and providing solutions to many of the world’s greatest challenges.