When the Apollo 14 mission headed for the Moon in 1971, one astronaut decided to pack a small bag of seeds.

Californian redwoods, Douglas fir and Sycamore seeds — for the duration of the mission, Stuart Roosa carried them with him everywhere he went.

Back on Earth, these special seeds were handed out to the public and planted around the world.

So what became of these 'Moon trees'? Learn more about these intriguing specimens with Sunday Extra.

Then, read an extract of 7 ½, a new novel by Australian writer Christos Tsiolkas. The iconic author joined The Minefield this week to discuss  the prevalence of anger in our politics, and its corrosiveness to moral life.

And don't forget the big news stories of the week. The Money analyses the federal budget with four young economists, while Stop Everything! digs into the fallout of the Oscars ceremony.

 

Until next time,
Rosie Ryan, digital editor

 

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When the Apollo 14 mission headed for the Moon, one astronaut took along a bag of seeds. Fifty years later, many of these trees are still growing around the world.

"I know there is so much happening that should concern me," writes Tsiolkas. "Crisis and revolution, war and bushfires, the pandemic and shifts in the superpowers ... But there is nothing I can offer anymore to illuminate any of that."

Thirty-eight artists from around the country have made new work for the National Indigenous Art Triennial to enact and explore ceremony within and around the National Gallery of Australia.