Radiolab

Moon Trees

72 snips
Jan 2, 2026
Guest
Natalie Middleton
In this engaging discussion, science writer Natalie Middleton shares the captivating story of Moon Trees, which journeyed to the moon aboard Apollo 14 thanks to astronaut Stu 'Smokey' Roosa. She delves into the scientific mysteries of seeds in space, the excitement of planting these historic trees across the U.S., and the surprising rediscovery prompted by a curious Indiana third grader. Middleton also unveils her interactive map documenting these unique trees, reflecting on how they connect us to space and each other.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Smokey Roosa's Moonbound Seed Canister

  • Stu 'Smokey' Roosa brought a palm-sized aluminum canister holding 500 tree seeds on Apollo 14 because he loved trees.
  • He chose five species (sweetgum, loblolly pine, redwood, sycamore, Douglas fir) that could grow across the U.S.
INSIGHT

Space Exposure Didn't Produce Immediate Changes

  • The seeds experienced true space conditions including microgravity and radiation during 34 lunar orbits in Apollo 14.
  • Initial growth showed no obvious differences, suggesting short-term space exposure didn't visibly alter seedlings.
ANECDOTE

Bag Rupture, Yet Seedlings Sprouted

  • After splashdown the seed bag ruptured during decontamination but many seeds survived and were germinated in Forest Service greenhouses.
  • NASA and the Forest Service planted roughly 420–450 saplings across the country for public and official plantings.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app