Header image: ESA’s Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC) running at full speed. Image credit: ESA –A. Le Floc’h
18.09.2023 - 16:13 / theunconventionalgardener.com / Emma Doughty
On 8 September 2023, Virgin Galactic’s ‘Galactic 03’ mission flew three tourists to the edge of space. The news that one of them (Tim Nash) carried a pocketful of priceless hominin bones has caused a backlash from the scientific community, due to their being both irreplaceable artefacts and human ancestral remains.
One of the bones was from Australopithecus sediba, which lived around 2 million years ago; the other was from Homo naledi and around 250,000-years-old. Both bones were originally found during digs in South Africa.
And so I wondered how many other fossils have been into space, and the answer turns out to be… more than you think!
The first fossils to venture into space seem to have been a piece of the vertebra and an eggshell from a baby duck-billed hadrosaur, Maiasaura peeblesorum. They travelled with STS-51F payload specialist Loren Acton on space shuttle Challenger, during the 8-day Spacelab 2 mission in 1985. Acton flew the dinosaur parts on behalf of Montana State University, his alma mater and where he later taught physics. The historic Maiasaura fossils now reside at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, USA.
Maiasaura is known as the “good mother lizard”, because (some 76 million years ago) it cared for its young in large nesting colonies. The species was made Montana’s state dinosaur the same year.
The next fossil to go into space launched on space shuttle Columbia in April 1993. STS-55 carried the Spacelab D-2 mission, and one of the German astronauts on board (Ulrich Walter or Hans Schlegel) personally requested a bat fossil from the Senckenberg Society for Natural Research. The Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon fossil, found in the Messel Pit, was the first complete fossil, the first mammal fossil
Header image: ESA’s Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC) running at full speed. Image credit: ESA –A. Le Floc’h
When your love for plants outgrows your available space, it’s time to think vertically! Windowsills are like mini stages for your botanical beauties, and with a little ingenuity, you can turn them into thriving green galleries. In this article, we’ll unveil some clever tips to maximize the limited space to Grow More Plants on a Windowsill.
If you’re an indoor plant enthusiast, you’ve probably faced the challenge of limited space. Fear not! With a little ingenuity, you can transform everyday items into stylish and efficient plant displays. In this listicle, we’ll explore Items That will Allow You to Grow More Plants Indoors!
In the summer of 1863, a world-famous English botanist was pondering why the shoots of climbing plants twirl around as they grow. In this episode, join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores the fascinating world of plant movement, and what that has to do with the first plants that ever flew on NASA’s space shuttle.
The Home Edit seems to be able to make any space look good. A box of cords, reno tools, the pet supplies—it's clean, organized, and often color coded in the shades of the rainbow.
Denmark continues to rank as one of the happiest nations on earth. If you want what they have, it’s time to learn about hygge garden ideas. Hygge is a concept that seems to escape Americans with our hustle and bustle and “go get ‘em” attitude, but it seems we could learn a thing or two from our Danish friends. They celebrate the concept of hygge outdoors or inside. A hygge outdoor space may include a hygge patio and hygge backyard, but don’t misconstrue the idea behind hygge — it belongs with you wherever you go. Keep reading to learn about hygge and how you can incorporate it into your lifestyle.
Just because summer is over doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy your patio, balcony, or terrace—fall is still a great time to gather outside with friends, so you'll want to make sure that your outdoor space is ready for the season.
If you crave a home that appears a bit more elevated, keep in mind that there are many ways that you can restyle items that you already own to make your house look and feel brand new.
Fall is sort of the pre-game of the holiday decor season. Shifting your home's accessories a bit for the chillier months can help you create a relaxing and inviting space to unwind in the evenings.
You can't think about fall without thinking about school supplies. Though school-age children are the primary enjoyers of school supplies, there's not reason adults can't join in the fun too at their home workspaces and desks. Fall desk accessories and decor will remind you that the harvest season is here, even if you're stuck instead. It's especially nice if you don't have any good foliage trees you can admire through a window.
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Header image: The Expose-R2 facility outside the International Space Station. Image credit: Roscosmos.