1026: Are morning glory seeds evidence of intergalactic voyagers? Host.
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. Utamaro II (Japanese (died 1831?)) Edo period (1615–1868) http://JohnBatchelorShow.com/contact http://JohnBatchelorShow.com/schedules Parler & Twitter: @BatchelorShow Are morning glory seeds evidence of intergalactic voyagers? Host. http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/05/morning-glory-seeds-are-tough-enough-interplanetary-trip "...scientists wanted to see just how much abuse a seed could withstand. In a follow-on experiment in the laboratory, Tepfer and Leach exposed three types of seeds—morning glory, tobacco, and A. thaliana—to high doses of UV light. Tepfer and Leach thought morning glory seeds might do well based on their large size, tough seed coats, and ability to survive for more than 50 years in soil. They found that only morning glory seeds germinated after being exposed to light roughly 6 million times the dose typically used to sterilize drinking water, conditions that killed the much smaller tobacco and A. thaliana seeds. The team suggests a protective coating containing flavonoids, compounds commonly found in wine and tea that act as natural sunscreens, might be responsible for the seeds’ robustness..." .