Sundews and Sphagnum| Sustaining Our Planet for Future Generations
Awards & Nominations
Sundews and Sphagnum has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!
Sustaining Our Planet for Future Generations
Air Quality- From Earth to ISS
Summary
We used carnivorous sundew plants and Sphagnum to improve air and water quality on the ISS and future Space exploration missions.
How We Addressed This Challenge
Our team addresses the importance of combating particulate matter, a component of air pollution, as a means to sustaining life on earth and space expansion in the long term. We propose an experiment using sundews and sphagnum as a natural, self sustaining air purifying method to remove particulate matter on commercial aircrafts, the ISS, and further space expansion. This would potentially better air quality and reduce health risks.
How We Developed This Project
Our team was inspired to take on this project by seeing a need for cleaner air and water for all. We wanted a self sustaining solution, that could be translated off planet as needed. To tackle this we used open satellite data by NASA and Kintone. We saw issues with space and gravity, and looked into research already being done.
How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project
We used satellite data that captures suspended particulate matter from NASA (https://airquality.gsfc.nasa.gov/particulate-matter). This influenced our project by demonstrating the need for a sustainable, low cost solution.
Project Demo
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LubCbh_YUnwEIIW3Us12WvGsC8I_FJMp206XBMlX57k/edit#slide=id.g9ad8125245_0_20
Project Code
Data & Resources
[1] B. Duncan, "Particulate Matter," Air Quality Observations from NASA, 10 July 2020. [Online]. Available: https://airquality.gsfc.nasa.gov/particulate-matter. [Accessed 03 Oct 2020].
[2] NASA, "Closing the Loop: Recycling Water and Air in Space," p. 7.
[3] M. P. H. L. I. K. L. Wolfram Adlassnig, "The roots of carnivorous plants," Springer - Plant and Soil, vol. 274, p. 14, 2005.
[4] C. White, "Effect of Increased Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition and Elevated CO2 on Traits Responsible for Carnivory in the Sundews Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera intermedia," p. 31, 2015.
[5] "Plants release up to 30 per cent more CO2 than previously thought, study says," News, 21 Nov 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-18/plant-respiration-co2-findings-anu-canberra/9163858#:~:text=During%20daylight%20hours%2C%20plants%20take,absorb%20more%20than%20they%20emit. [Accessed 02 October 2020].
[6] A. S. M. M. E. B. E. G. G. W. E. L. Aleksandra Krolicka, "Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the secondary metabolites from in vitro cultures of the Alice sundew (Drosera aliciae)," Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry, vol. 53, p. 3, 2009.
[7] T. Pultarova, "This Space Station Air Recycler Could Help Astronauts Breathe Easier on Mars," SPACE.COM, 7 Nov 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.space.com/42362-space-station-air-recycler-for-mars-astronauts.html. [Accessed 03 October 2020].
[8] H. I. H. Y. A. M. Y. S. Naoko Yoshida, "Aquatic plant surface as a niche for methanotrophs," Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 5, p. 30, 2014.
[9] P. L. Barry, "Breathing Easy on the Space Station," NASA SCIENCE SHARE THE SCIENCE, 12 Nov 2000. [Online]. Available: https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast13nov_1/. [Accessed 03 Oct 2020].
[10] "Cities of World Ranked by Exposure to Particulates," Pollution Free Cities, 14 Oct 2011. [Online]. Available: https://pollutionfree.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/cities-of-world-ranked-by-exposure-to-particulates/. [Accessed 03 Oct 2020].