How to grow food in space | May 1, 2025

Summary

In this CNN 10 episode, Ky Wire discusses a range of topics, including the U.S. economy's contraction in the first quarter of the year, severe weather affecting the Midwest, and the NFL's fines over a prank phone call. The show also covers space exploration, such as growing food on Mars, and a groundbreaking image of the sun's surface. Additionally, a military unit of black women from WWII is honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, and the episode wraps up with shoutouts to schools in California and Texas. A mix of news, science, and history, delivering an insightful, engaging update on current events.

Takeaways

• 😀 The U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its first contraction in three years, driven by government spending cuts and rising imports.
• 😀 Despite the economic slowdown, businesses increased their spending, and U.S. exports rose, indicating a mix of optimism and caution in the business sector.
• 😀 Severe weather has impacted the Midwestern U.S., with tornadoes, high winds, and floods affecting millions. A phenomenon called 'training' caused heavy rainfall in some areas.
• 😀 The NFL fined the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator $350,000 for a prank call that leaked an NFL draft prospect’s phone number.
• 😀 Saturn's north pole features a unique hexagonal cloud pattern, likely caused by a hurricane-like jet stream, discovered during the Voyager missions in the 1980s.
• 😀 A new, close-up image of the Sun’s surface from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope reveals detailed sunspots and could help predict solar weather affecting Earth.
• 😀 European Space Agency’s Phoenix 1 spacecraft launched to test whether astronauts can grow food in space, aiming to support long-term missions like those to Mars.
• 😀 The Imperial College and Basos Earth Fund are investigating ways to create sustainable food production using microorganisms, with applications for space missions and Earth.
• 😀 80 years after World War II, the only female unit to serve overseas, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service.
• 😀 NASA and other agencies are working to develop bioreactor technology to help astronauts grow their own food, fuel, and medicine, which could be critical for space colonization.

Q & A

What is GDP and how is it used to measure the economy?

GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced within a country's economy. It is used to assess the economic health of a country, providing insight into its overall economic activity.

What happened to the U.S. economy in the first quarter of 2025?

The U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first time it has contracted in three years. This decline was attributed to government cutbacks and a sharp increase in imports.

What are tariffs, and how did they impact the economy in Q1 2025?

Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on imported goods. In the first quarter of 2025, tariffs likely contributed to a sharp rise in imports, as businesses stocked up in anticipation of new tariff policies.

Despite the economic shrinkage, what positive signs were seen in the U.S. economy?

While consumer spending slowed, business investment surged, with gross private domestic investment reaching its highest rate since 2021. Additionally, U.S. exports saw an increase, signaling positive economic activity.

What is a 'do' in meteorological terms, and how did it affect the Midwest?

A 'do' refers to a destructive straight-line wind event, where winds exceed 58 mph and can stretch over several hundred miles. This phenomenon caused widespread damage in the Midwest, including power outages and heavy rainfall.

What does the term 'training' refer to in the context of severe weather?

In meteorology, 'training' refers to storms moving over the same area repeatedly, causing significant rainfall accumulation. This phenomenon was observed in Oklahoma City during the severe weather events.

What incident led to the NFL fining the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator?

The Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator were fined after the football coach's son orchestrated a prank phone call to NFL draft prospect Shadur Sanders. The incident went viral and resulted in a fine of $100,000 for the coach and $250,000 for the Falcons organization.

What planet in our solar system has a hexagonal cloud pattern at its north pole?

Saturn has a hexagonal cloud pattern located at its north pole. This discovery was made during the Voyager missions in the 1980s, and it is believed to be the result of a hurricane-like jetstream.

What groundbreaking image of the Sun was recently captured, and why is it important?

A newly released close-up image of the Sun's surface, captured by the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, provides unprecedented detail. This image helps scientists study solar activity and predict potentially harmful solar weather, like geomagnetic storms.

How are scientists testing the potential to grow food in space?

Scientists are testing the ability to grow food in space through missions like the Phoenix 1 launch. The project explores how astronauts can grow their own food using microbes and microorganisms to produce food, fuel, and medicine in space environments.