Year 9 STEM Elective

Year 9 STEM Elective – Plants in space investigation 

This semester, Year 9 STEM students are investigating how different colours of light affect plant growth in space. In their experiment, students grew plants under red, blue, and white lights to discover which colour helps plants grow the fastest and healthiest. This research is important because astronauts on long space missions need fresh food to stay healthy and reduce the amount of packaged food they carry. By finding the most effective light colour for plant growth, scientists can design better space gardens that help astronauts grow fresh snacks and vegetables while living in space. 

Many of the groups discovered that pink and blue light resulted in the most growth. They also found that if the plants are not regularly watered or fertilizer added they quickly die. Also, many plants succumbed to fungus attack. All important considerations when in space! 

This investigation also links to real-world technology used on Earth. Stadiums such as Marvel Stadium and Melbourne Cricket Ground use pink grow lights to help grass recover and stay healthy between games. The pink colour is created using a mix of red and blue light, which are the most effective colours for plant growth. 

Ms Cefai Yr 9 STEM Elective Teacher