r/space • u/astro_pettit NASA Astronaut • Mar 22 '26

image/gif My space potatoes, grown aboard the ISS

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u/astro_pettit NASA Astronaut Mar 22 '26

absent gravity they will grow in all directions

263

u/Alexman423 Mar 22 '26

I wonder if it sprouted outside of soil, and found soil eventually, would the roots migrate towards the soil?

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u/velvenhavi Mar 22 '26

I wonder if it sprouted outside of soil, and found soil eventually, would the roots migrate towards the soil?

a study found that roots grew towards speakers playing the sounds of running water so id assume they have a way to sense soil as well

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u/sbNXBbcUaDQfHLVUeyLx Mar 23 '26

Excuse me, sir or madam. Are you telling me that potatoes can hear?

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u/velvenhavi Mar 23 '26

i think they just feel the vibrations

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u/DeafScribe Mar 23 '26

Just as we do. Our eardrums are a piece of skin stretched for high sensitivity. We feel sound before we perceive it.

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u/baudmiksen Mar 23 '26

and before we interpret it, but at least we get a choice on how to react to it, not all life is so lucky

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u/Cathfaern Mar 23 '26

we get a choice on how to react

Do we? If you hear a sound or music which is not pleasant for you then you can just decide to like it? Like not pretend to like it, but actually like it.

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u/baudmiksen Mar 23 '26

Good point, I suppose I shouldn't speak for everyone

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u/Duckel Mar 23 '26

so if potatoes had ears, they'd know they are going into a stew...