Radiolab – "Moon Trees"
Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Lulu Miller & Latif Nasser
Guest Contributors: Natalie Middleton, Ira Flato, Alan, and various child listeners
Overview
This evocative episode of Radiolab is both a tribute to the late disability activist Alice Wong and a whimsical, heartfelt tale about "moon trees"—earthly trees grown from seeds that orbited the moon on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. Radiolab, known for its curiosity-driven storytelling and sonic inventiveness, blends a celebration of Alice's life and joyful spirit with investigative science storytelling, unearthing a story of cosmic adventure, forgotten history, childlike imagination, and newfound earthly accessibility.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Tribute to Alice Wong and Why the Moon
- The episode opens with a remembrance for Alice Wong: activist, writer, and friend of Radiolab.
- Alice’s Love For Space: In her own imaginative, satirical obituary, she mused about spending her final years living in a lunar capsule ("crypts in space"), inspiring Lulu to dedicate this moon-themed episode as a memorial.
- Themes Introduced: Accessibility—not just in disability advocacy, but as a lens on who gets to "touch" space.
"Now, when I look up at the Moon, I picture Alice is up there in lower gravity, experiencing less pain."
—Lulu Miller [03:57]
2. The Story of the Moon Trees
2.1. The Smokejumper Turned Astronaut
- Stuart "Smokey" Roosa: A former firefighter and Forest Service worker; later, an astronaut on Apollo 14.
- Roosa’s deep bond with trees leads him to bring 500 seeds on the lunar mission, aiming to find out if space travel would affect their growth or DNA.
- Seeds included Sycamore, Loblolly Pine, Redwood, Sweetgum, and Douglas Fir — species found across the US.
2.2 Apollo 14 and the Seeds' Journey
- Detailed retelling of the Apollo 14 mission’s nerve-racking, awe-inspiring moments.
- Seeds journey 250,000 miles, orbit the moon with Roosa, then return to Earth (via dramatic splashdown), surviving both space and a bag explosion during decontamination.
"He was the most alone person of the entire living human race. You're cold. But get this. You're also clammy, and it's pitch dark. And the other guys are, like, having fun, bouncing, playing golf on the moon."
—Lulu Miller [20:20]
2.3. Planting the Moon Trees
- Approximately 420–450 of the seeds germinated; the saplings were distributed nationwide to prominent and everyday places (White House, state capitols, Girl Scout camps, cemeteries, even private yards).
- Many trees lost their identity as "moon trees" over the decades as plaques disappeared and memories faded.
- The experiment: Initial findings showed no visible difference between "moon trees" and control trees.
3. Rediscovering the Moon Trees
3.1. The Third-Grader Who Sparked a Recovery Mission
- A young girl in Indiana notices a "moon tree" plaque at her Girl Scout camp in 1976; her teacher writes to NASA.
- Dr. Dave Williams at NASA begins tracking moon trees, crowdsourcing their locations.
3.2. A Living Link to the Moon
- Guest producer Natalie Middleton visits a moon tree, is emotionally struck by its presence.
- The notion of "access" re-emerges: Anyone can touch something that has "touched" the moon—no astronaut credentials required.
"To be able to touch a living thing that has actually traveled all the way to the moon and back and survived, it's a deep thing...It's like a joyful kind of ache."
—Natalie Middleton [28:02]
3.3. The Ongoing Hunt and Mapping
- Many moon trees remain unaccounted for. Natalie creates and shares an interactive "moon tree map" for public participation.
4. The Legacy, Science, and Imagination of the Moon Trees
4.1. Childhood Wonder and Speculation
- Child listeners imagine how space might transform trees: spiral branches, moon-berry fruit, magical properties like animal flight.
- The episode delights in the collision between data-driven science and exuberant speculation.
4.2. Ongoing Scientific Relevance
- NASA continues sending seeds to space (Artemis mission, ISS "Veggie" experiments) to study plant growth in zero gravity.
- The episode discusses aging in space (the “twin paradox”), food production for future space travelers, and the difficulty of nurturing plants in microgravity.
5. Musical Interlude & Artistic Reflection
- Alan Gofinski performs an original song, “Tangled in Your Roots,” poeticizing the hidden stories within the moon trees—a musical metaphor for resilience, possibility, and secrets held in plain view.
6. Listener Q&A
- Listeners ask about time dilation in space, space gardening, and the future of the moon tree project.
- Only about 100 of the original 400+ moon trees’ locations are known; listeners are encouraged to help find and catalog them.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
-
Alice Wong on Power and Joy:
"I am seeing Stevie Nicks in October and my witchy powers will be in full display."
—Alice Wong [02:34] -
On Roosa's Loneliness in Lunar Orbit:
"You're just like—the most alone person of the entire living human race. You're cold. But get this. You're also clammy, and it's pitch dark."
—Lulu Miller [20:13] -
On Access and Touching the Moon:
"To be able to touch a living thing that has actually traveled all the way to the moon and back and survived... It's like a joyful kind of ache."
—Natalie Middleton [28:16] -
Children Imagine Moon Trees:
"Maybe it'd have to grow...not with any water...different chemicals helping it grow... it would have blue leaves and a white trunk...inside of the coconuts is a piece from the moon."
—Child Listener [12:18–13:12] -
On Science & Mystery:
"Most of them are still out there growing. And nobody knows that they went to the moon."
—Natalie Middleton [34:48]
Timestamps & Segment Highlights
- [00:32–04:51]: Tribute to Alice Wong, her connection to space, and setup for the episode.
- [05:07–13:46]: Smokey Roosa’s backstory; childlike speculation on what a moon tree could become.
- [16:13–22:43]: Apollo 14’s mission, the seeds’ lunar voyage, and their dramatic return.
- [22:43–24:57]: Planting, growing, and forgetting about the moon trees.
- [24:53–26:22]: The third grader's discovery and NASA's subsequent moon tree recovery project.
- [26:30–29:02]: Emotional first-person account of meeting a living moon tree.
- [29:27–31:02]: Original song “Tangled in Your Roots.”
- [31:02–34:48]: Listener questions about time dilation, ISS gardening, Artemis moon tree sequel.
- [34:54–end]: Call to find lost moon trees; closing tribute to Alice Wong.
Notable Resources
- Moon Tree Map: Linked on Radiolab’s website and episode description; public contributions encouraged.
- Alice Wong’s Legacy: Further reading, podcasts, and remembrance listed at Disability Visibility and Transom.org.
Tone & Style
Radiolab’s signature blend of curiosity, empathy, and playfulness pervades the episode. Narration and conversation are infused with wonder ("Whoa," "How cool!"), gentle humor, and a spirit of invitation, both to discovery and communal remembrance.
Conclusion
"Moon Trees" is both an elegy and an adventure—honoring a beloved friend while uncovering a chapter of overlooked scientific and personal wonder. In telling the story of seeds flung farther than any living thing, the episode tears down barriers—between Earth and space, science and myth, loneliness and belonging—ultimately suggesting that space, wonder, and memory are more accessible than we might think.
"Enjoy all of Alice’s good shit, and may you create some good shit as well."
—Alice Wong (as read by Lulu Miller) [36:15]