Why the egusi? A Nigerian melon seed's journey into space


  • World
  • Thursday, 28 Aug 2025

LAGOS (Reuters) -When Nigerian researcher Temidayo Oniosun chose a melon seed called the egusi to send up on a space mission, it wasn't just about science - it was about symbolism.

The egusi, a staple in many West African kitchens, became the unlikely ambassador of the continent's heritage aboard the International Space Station with their launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier this month.

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