Newton's apple tree to get taste of zero gravity

A PIECE of Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree is being carried into zero-gravity space on the next Nasa shuttle mission.

The section of wood from the original tree that inspired Newton's theory of gravity after an apple fell from it is normally held in the Royal Society's archives.

It was lent to British-born astronaut Dr Piers Sellers, who will be taking it into orbit, as part of the academic institution's 350th anniversary celebrations.

The tree sample will be accompanied on its trip into space by an image of Sir Isaac, also donated by the Royal Society.

Dr Sellers, a graduate of Edinburgh University, said: "We're delighted to take this piece of Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree. While it's up there, it will experience no gravity, so if it had an apple on it, the apple wouldn't fall.

"I'm pretty sure Sir Isaac would have loved to see this, as it would have proved his first law of motion to be correct."