Plants 'thrive' on Moon rock diet

[Rick]

Scientists with the European Space Agency (Esa) say the day when flowers bloom on the Moon has come closer.

An Esa-linked team has shown that marigolds can grow in crushed rock very like the lunar surface, with no need for plant food.

Some see growing plants on the Moon as a step towards human habitation.

But the concept is not an official aim of Esa, and one of the agency's senior officials has dismissed the idea as "science fiction".

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7351437.stm

(Huh! Clearly one of ESA's "senior officials" needs educating... - Rick)