Japanese-led experiment will see how plants grow on the ISS Researchers will monitor how they grow without influence of gravity Results could help farmers on Earth get a higher crop yield And it may also help future astronauts grow plants on Mars

By Jonathan O'Callaghan for MailOnline

Published: 06:46 EST, 3 April 2015 | Updated: 07:18 EST, 3 April 2015

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An experiment on the ISS will investigate whether plants are able to use a sixth sense while in space - a sense of gravity.

In the weightless environment of the space station, researchers will monitor how plants grow in a particular direction without a noticeable gravitational pull.

The results could help farmers on Earth get a higher crop yield - and may also help future astronauts grow plants on missions beyond Earth orbit to the moon and Mars.

An experiment on the ISS will investigate whether plants are able to use a sixth sense while in space - a sense of gravity. Nasa astronaut Karen Nyberg is pictured harvesting plants from a previous Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) investigation of thale cress during Expedition 37 in 2013

Read more from the original source:

International Space Station experiment to reveal how cress grows without gravity