To the moon

The Arizona Republic has a fascinating story this morning about researchers who have already engineered a South Pole vegetable growth chamber and are pitching NASA on a similar concept for the agency's planned lunar station. Scientists at the University of Arizona's Controlled Environment and Agricultural Center in Tucson say that their South Pole "growth chamber" - operating since 2005 - produces enough lettuce, cucumbers and other vegetables to provide two salads a day for the 75 scientists living there. Researchers say the growth chamber is a social hub and good therapy for South Pole residents - and I'm sure a greenhouse on the moon would be even more treasured by space travelers.