Russian scientists have successfully grown watermelons in the coldest place on earth, Antarctica. Photo/Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI)
MOSCOW – Scientist Russia managed to grow watermelons in the coldest place in the world, Antarctica. Whereas watermelon first recognized in Sudan 4,300 years ago as a plant that thrives in hot places.
Russian scientists cultivate watermelons at the Vostok Station, a Russian research station at the Antarctic Cold Pole, which is known as the coldest place on Earth. The temperature there was recorded to have reached a freezing temperature of minus 89.2 degrees Celsius (minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
There Russian scientists built a greenhouse to increase the temperature and humidity of the air to make it suitable for growing watermelons. Researchers from the Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) and the Institute for Agrophysical Research and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences also created oases as a source of water.
The research team chose two watermelon varieties that ripen early and have a great taste. This watermelon also has the ability to adapt to low atmospheric pressure and lack of oxygen in the greenhouse.
They plant seeds in a thin layer of soil substitute and use special lighting that mimics sunlight. Since no insects pollinated the plants, the researchers were tasked with pollinating everything themselves by hand.
Exactly 103 days after the seeds were planted, the researchers found eight ripe, sweet watermelons growing on six different plants. “Melon grows up to about 1 kilogram with a diameter of up to 13 centimeters,” said the Russian Geographical Society, quoted by SINDOnews from the Live Science page, Wednesday (2/8/2023).
This experiment proved that under the right conditions, watermelons can grow in the coldest places on the planet. This success also provides an interesting snack for scientists living in Antarctica’s harsh conditions.
2023-08-01 23:26:23
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