"In past months, the crew aboard the Tiangong have treated themselves to succulent BBQ wings, fresh veggies, and even moon cakes. Their latest consignment isn't for eating, however: it's a butterfly, which hatched from a chrysalis in zero gravity. The butterfly pupa was encased in a self-sustaining capsule heated to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which contained plants and microorganisms to provide a stable environment."
"Though it's not the first butterfly to undergo metamorphosis in space - that honor belongs to a monarch aboard the ISS in 2009 - it could probably win the superlative "most stressed." According to Xie, the experiment was designed to maximize the chrysalis' exposure to the harsh reality of space; unlike previous attempts, this butterfly pod had no radiation shielding, temperature control, or full-spectrum lighting, let alone interference from humans."
A butterfly chrysalis was flown to China's Tiangong space station inside a Kuaizhou 11Y8 cargo spacecraft and housed in a 14.2-liter self-sustaining chamber heated to 86°F that contained plants and microorganisms. The insect completed metamorphosis in microgravity and the emerged butterfly navigated the chamber, fluttering, resting on leaves, and adapting quickly to the new environment. The experiment operated fully unmanned and exposed the chrysalis without radiation shielding, dedicated temperature control, or full-spectrum lighting. The outcome shows that at least some butterflies can complete metamorphosis and exhibit normal behaviors in microgravity conditions.
Read at Futurism
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