In 1957, the Russian dog Laika made international news as the first animal to enter earth’s orbit, aboard the Soviet Sputnik 2. Laika didn’t make it back alive, but the passengers sent into space by UW Botany Professor Simon Gilroy certainly have. Gilroy researches the effects of microgravity and low oxygen on plant growth. Most recently, his team sent cress seedlings up into orbit. Simon Gilroy joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on May 16, 2016.