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Health, Science & Environment

Ohio elementary teacher grows tree from seed that orbited the moon

Rachel Tebbe stands next to the sweet gum tree, aka Moon Tree, that grew from a seed that orbited the Moon in 2022.
Wright State University
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Wright State University
Rachel Tebbe stands next to the sweet gum tree, aka Moon Tree, that grew from a seed that orbited the Moon in 2022.

A teacher was selected from 1,300 applicants to receive one of the 50 sweetgum seeds that rode in when it orbited the moon in 2022.

Rachel Tebbe planted the seed back in May. And now it's a five-foot-tall tree that she visits nearly daily.

A Wright State Lake Campus graduate, the university said Tebbew completed the application for one of the moon trees back in September while a senior at the university.

The tree is located by the school鈥檚 football field, off a side road near another sweet gum planted in 2016. The school is in Mercer County near .

There鈥檚 nothing to denote how special the tree is 鈥 for now. Tebbe said a planting party will be scheduled with activities and a contest to name the tree.

鈥淥nce it鈥檚 named, we鈥檒l get a plaque with information about the tree,鈥 she said.

In the meantime, Tebbe visits the moon tree daily to be sure it is well, and if she can鈥檛 be there, she said the school generously steps in.

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