Ag student’s research could shape future of lunar farming

Jess Atkin’s favorite planet is Earth. It always has been. No surprise there — after all, she spends her days nurturing plants, diving into oceans to clean up debris and caring for her horses at her home on a small patch of land outside of Bryan.

And Atkin’s second favorite thing in the universe? The moon. It’s the quiet, constant companion in the night sky, one that has long captivated her imagination.

“I’ve always felt a deep connection to the moon,” Atkin said. “It’s this peaceful, steady presence. But when I think about it, I realize how much of our understanding of the universe has been shaped by this celestial body. And now, here we are, thinking about sustaining life on it.”