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'Interdisciplinary': P4S and Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge team up in new video series

From Native Plants to Future Foods

P4S researchers at the University of Melbourne are exploring native plants' potential as food ingredients of the future.

What's On: National Science Week 2026

Join us as we celebrate 'Seeds of Science' this August, with free science experiences, events and resources all month long!

ABC Landline features Plants for Space

Check out August 16th's episode of ABC Landline, featuring the research of our team at the University of Western Australia.

Space talk with Gunya Malhotra

What can growing a single seed in space teach us about feeding people on Earth? The Australian Space Agency sat down with Gunya to find out!

Jordan - P4S Student Spotlight Series

Jordan's project explores the role of critical thinking in science education, aiming to inform how our researchers build and maintain their education practice.

Aussie Space Cookbook Launches for National Science Week

Ingredients being studied for space missions could soon make their way into your kitchen, thanks to a space-inspired cookbook released by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space this August.

Watch: Opportunities in plant-based proteins with P4S Deputy Director, Professor Sally Gras

A Parliamentary Library seminar has explored the increasing demand for food across the world and how Victoria is leading the way in plant-based protein research.

The Future of Food Off-World and On: The Artemis Generation

Prof. Matthew Gilliham featured in The Australian Farmer to discuss the future of food and agriculture innovation.

P4S takes on the Top End!

This month our education team took on a jam-packed Northern Territory tour, engaging over 500 students and members of the public.

Flinders University: In Touch With Professor Eva Kemps

Hear more about our Flinders University node leader, Eva Kemps.

Radio New Zealand features Plants for Space

P4S Deputy Director Professor Melissa de Zwart spoke with Karen on RNZ National about the work we are doing on human health and nutrition, in space and on Earth. Listen to this wide-ranging discussion on food, culture, space law and ethics.

Leni - P4S Student Spotlight Series

Leni Campbell-Clause recently completed her PhD in molecular genetics. Her work investigated how plant genetic engineering can create useful plant-based foods, medicines and more.

New England Biolabs features Dr Marta Peirats-Llobet

Growing Plants on the Moon? For this blog post, New England Biolabs had the opportunity to interview Dr. Peirats-Llobet about P4S and how she and the LEAF team are shaping the science of tomorrow.

Prof Ryan Lister recognised in King's Birthday Honours

Prof Lister was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to biochemistry, genetic science and neuroscience.

Empowering 120,000+ Learners Through Plants for Space

La Trobe University interviewed Dr Frazer Thorpe, Plants for Space Education and Engagement Manager, about the impact and legacy of P4S programs.

ABC Gardening Australia features Plants for Space

Researchers at the University of Western Australia are exploring how plants could help sustain human life beyond Earth.

P4S Joins the Axiom Space University Alliance

Plants for Space and Adelaide University are the first Australians to join an expanding international alliance, uniting the global research community in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Customizable drinks could provide essential nutrients during space missions

American Chemical Society

The new recipes allow for mix-and-match flavors while also incorporating essential omega-3 fatty acids.

Celebrating an Aussie Spaceflight Milestone – STS-77

Celebrating 30 years since Dr Andy Thomas' first spaceflight.

Camille - P4S Student Spotlight Series

Camille's non-linear pathway to a PhD has led her to Plants for Space and its multidisciplinary cohort. Camille's work is focused on space resource extraction, and lunar resources in particular

PLACE Magazine 2025 has landed!

We are excited to announce that PLACE Magazine, our Annual Report for 2025, is now live!

ABC Lab Notes Features Professor Matthew Gilliham

The main aim of NASA's Artemis program is to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon — so what will we eat? And can food be actually be grown there?

Women in plant science around the world

Alison Gill

Trends in Plant Science 30th Anniversary issue: Big concepts - shaping the future of plant science

AJIF Grant Program 2025 – Grantee Announcement

Professor Kim Johnson and the La Trobe University research team are one of only four recipients of the AJIF Research Grant Program 2025/26.

Anshul - P4S Student Spotlight Series

Recently awarded an ambassadorship with the American Society of Plant Biologists, Anshul Phaugat is bringing a *fresh* perspective to growing food in controlled environments.

Why are the Artemis Accords important?

Dr Ciara Finnegan

The Artemis Accords stand to serve a central role in the future of human activity in Outer Space. What role is this exactly?

The Floating Factories of the Future - is space the new factory floor?

Tom Gurn, 'Particle'

Is off-Earth fabrication the future for on-Earth application? P4S Chief Investigator Professor Volker Hessel, Adelaide University, explains to Tom Gurn of 'Particle' what in-Space manufacturing is, and how this benefits Earth.

Experiment puts space lettuce under the microscope

Lettuce from the ISS is being studied to reveal how microgravity affects crop growth. Plants for Space researchers Dr Troy Miller and Prof Harvey Millar, University of Western Australia, are collaborating with NASA on the Plant Habitat‑07 project.

A greener future for Earth through space exploration research

Global scientists launch a roadmap for using plants as a life-support system for Moon and Mars missions, pioneering space farms and technologies to revolutionise sustainable food production on Earth.

From space science to dinner plates: the future of farming indoors

Extreme weather events, from heavy rainfall to heatwaves and droughts, are increasingly threatening crop yields globally, urging new solutions for agriculture.

Einstein A Go-Go features Dr Marta Peirats-Llobet and Dr Declan Lafferty

3RRR Einstein A Go-Go Program

P4S researchers Dr. Marta Peirats-Llobet and Dr Declan Lafferty caught up with Dr Shane and Dr Ray on Einstein A Go-Go.

P4S Centre Director among finalists for South Australian Scientist of the Year

P4S Centre Director, Professor Matthew Gilliham, has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 South Australian Scientist of the Year.

Light is sufficient to compensate for random positioning machine-simulated microgravity in plant roots

R David, A Situmorang, N Nghiep Tran, T Maythwe, V Hessel, Philip B Brewer

Growing food crops for space missions requires significant improvements in technical competence. Many issues remain, including ensuring that roots grow vertically in low gravity. …

Dynamic and spatial control of cellular activity during seed germination

MG Lewsey, GW Bassel, J Whelan

This review summarises recent advances that illustrate the spatiotemporally dynamic nature of events during germination, which gives rise to the cell and tissue-specific activity that underpins germination.

$12 million grant backs global team to create first synthetic plant chromosome

Centre researchers are part of a world-first effort to build an artificial chromosome entirely from scratch in plants, which has been awarded over $12 million in funding from the UK’s ARIA.

Towards sustainable food security: Exploring the potential of duckweed (Lemnaceae) in diversifying food systems

CE Ofoedu, H Bozkurt, JC Mortimer

This review assesses the potential of duckweed as a sustainable resource for diversifying the food system and ensuring food security.

Liquid-phase determination of Arabidopsis respiration and photosynthesis using Clark-type O2 electrodes

F Sena, C Couture, A BR, AH Millar, S Signorelli

In this study, we validate and characterize the use of Clark-type oxygen electrodes, specifically the Hansatech Oxytherm+P system, to quantify both photosynthetic and respiratory activity in intact arabidopsis seedlings.

SBS German features Professor Volker Hessel

SBS German

Professor Volker Hessel was recently interviewed on SBS German, discussing medicine in space.

The switch‐liker's guide to plant synthetic gene circuits

JPB Lloyd, A Khan and R Lister

This review examines the core principles and components of plant synthetic gene circuits, including sensors, integrators, and actuators.

Female fertility key to future barley yield security

University of Adelaide Newsroom

Read about a recent study which identified a novel mechanism through which a protein in barley supports female fertility and could help safeguard yield security in the future.

Shrimp shell material may control space drug delivery

University of Adelaide Newsroom

Read about a collaborative study investigating whether chitosan performs well in controlling medicine delivery when exposed to zero gravity.

Deciphering seed development and germination in the single-cell era

P Schouveiler, LC Liew, M Corso, L Rajjou, J Zinsmeister, MG Lewsey

In this review, we discuss the current status of the application of single-cell technologies to seeds and present a workflow for conducting single-cell transcriptomics. Additionally, we discuss the integration of single-cell multi-omics.

Synthetic gene circuits in plants: recent advances and challenges

A Khan and R Lister

In this review, we discuss recent advances and challenges for synthetic gene circuits in plants.

MADS31 supports female germline development by repressing the post-fertilization programme in cereal ovules

X Yang, G Li, J Shi, LG Wilkinson, MK Aubert, K Houston, NJ Shirley, H Gao, RA Lister, L Colombo and MR Tucker

This study reveals that a B-sister MADS-box transcription factor, MADS31, is expressed in the inner subdomain of the nucellus and sustains germline development by preventing expression of post-fertilization genes.

I Am Not A Rocket Scientist Podcast features Dr James Lloyd

I Am Not A Rocket Scientist Podcast

P4S Research Fellow Dr James Lloyd caught up with high school student, Anay Ashwin, on the 'I Am Not A Rocket Scientist’ podcast.

AgTech Finder Podcast features Professor Matthew Gilliham

AgTech Finder Podcast

P4S Centre Director Professor Matthew Gilliham caught up with Olivia Calver on the AgTech Finder Podcast to discuss vertical farming.

Join our upcoming Teacher Professional Learning Events

Plants for Space is inviting Years 5 to 8 teachers to free teacher professional learning events in Melbourne on the 27-28 March.

Light‐activated channelrhodopsins: a revolutionary toolkit for the remote control of plant signalling

R Hedrich, M Gilliham

In this Tansley Insight, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the application of CHR optogenetics in higher plants and discuss their possible uses in the remote control of plant biology.

Scientists redesigning plants for astronauts to grow and eat in space

ABC News

Hear from Plants for Space researchers at the University of Western Australia in a recent article, published by ABC News.

Light‐activated channelrhodopsins: a revolutionary toolkit for the remote control of plant signalling

R Hedrich and M Gilliham

In this Tansley Insight, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the application of CHR optogenetics in higher plants and discuss their possible uses in the remote control of plant biology.

Centre members gather in Adelaide for our inaugural Annual Conference

Read more about our inaugural Annual Conference, held in late October 2024.

Australian duckweed launches into space

Read more about experiments sent into space as part of the MAPHEUS 15 mission.

Launch of the ARC Centre for Excellence in Plants for Space

Read about our official launch event, held at the University of Adelaide Waite Campus on the 30th October 2024.

Redefining the role of sodium exclusion within salt tolerance

S Garcia-Darga, SJ Roy, M Gilliham

This review discusses literature which shows that leaf Na+ accumulation can, in some circumstances, be tolerated without a detrimental effect on yield when HKT1 still functions to exclude Na+ from reproductive tissues.

Exploring consumer acceptability of leafy greens in earth and space immersive environments using biometrics

CG Viejo, N Harris, E Tongson & S Fuentes

This study used univariate and multivariate analysis on data from pick-and-eat leafy greens to assess self-reported and biometric consumer sensory analysis in simulated microgravity using reclining chairs and space-immersive environments.

NASA is launching a major mission to look for habitable spots on Jupiter’s moon Europa

J Lloyd

Learn more about NASA's upcoming mission to Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon in an article published in The Conversation.

Supply Chain Sustainability in Outer Space: Lessons to Be Learnt from Remote Sites on Earth

MV Hoyos, V Hessel, E Salas, J Culton, K Robertson, A Laybourn, M Escribà-Gelonch, N Cook & M de Zwart

This review describes learnings for human habitation in space from remote communities on Earth that have developed and survived over generations.

Optimising plant form and function for controlled environment agriculture in space and on earth

M Kamran, L Auroux, K Johnson & MG Lewsey

This review proposes several areas of research and development to produce plants suited to space settlements.

Green horizons: how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability

MF Morgan, M Gilliham & JC Mortimer

This review article explores how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability.

Conceptualising sustainability in outer space resource utilisation

M de Zwart, S Henderson & M Neumann

This article examines the meaning of the concept of sustainability with respect to space activities, with specific emphasis on the extraction and utilisation of space resources.

CRISPRi-based circuits to control gene expression in plants

MA Khan, G Herring, JY Zhu, M Oliva, E Fourie, B Johnston, Z Zhang, J Potter, L Pineda, J Pflueger, T Swain, C Pflueger, JPB Lloyd, D Secco, I Small, BN Kidd & R Lister

The construction of synthetic gene circuits in plants has been limited by a lack of orthogonal and modular parts. Here, we implement a CRISPRi-based reversible gene circuit platform in plants.

Digital Twins in Agriculture: Orchestration and Applications

M Escribà-Gelonch, S Liang, P van Schalkwyk, I Fisk, N Van Duc Long & V Hessel

In this review, Digital Twin technology is critically reviewed and framed in the context of recent advances in precision agriculture and Agriculture 4.0.

Assessment of changes in sensory perception, biometrics and emotional response for space exploration by simulating microgravity positions

CG Viejo, N Harris & S Fuentes

This study employed sensory trials and biometrics from video using simulated microgravity chairs to simulate alterations in sensory perception akin to those encountered in space conditions.

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