Purple Lifeform Photographed Sprouting 'Tentacles' on the ISS

A photo shared by NASA astronaut Don Pettit showed a purple object with sprout-like 'tentacles' floating on the ISS.

The object was a purple potato nicknamed Spudnik-1 whose sprouts and Velcro caused its alien appearance.

Pettit said he grew the potatoes hydroponically during his 2024–2025 long-duration mission and has grown other crops on the ISS.