Moon soil has been used to grow plants for the first time

Scientists used small samples of dust collected during Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972 to grow a type of cress, and the seeds unexpectedly sprouted after two days.

The plant growth halted after six days, but the findings could be an important breakthrough in the quest to make long-term stays on the moon possible.

Professor Anna-Lisa Paul, from the University of Florida, said: "I can't tell you how astonished we were. Every plant - whether in a lunar sample or in a control - looked the same up until about day six."

NASA chief Bill Nelson also underlined the importance of the findings.

He said: "This research is critical to NASA's long-term human exploration goals as we'll need to use resources found on the Moon and Mars to develop food sources for future astronauts living and operating in deep space."

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