• Scientists from a University in Thailand are conducting groundbreaking research into the potential of watermealas a source of nutrition and oxygen for astronauts.

ABOUT WATERMEAL

• It is the world’s smallest flowering plant.

In Thailand, it has been part of the local diet for generations, appearing in dishes ranging from soups to salads.

• This rootless, stemless plant typically floats on the surface of water bodies in regions like Thailand and other parts of Asia.
• Its simplicity and rapid growth rate make it an ideal candidate for studying the effects of altered gravity on plant development.
• It’s a prolific producer of oxygen through photosynthesis and a rich source of protein.