What if humanity was on the Moon as a reserve? That could be exactly the plan. Scientists want to build a repository there to preserve biological material from Earth. The Moon’s temperatures and overall stability make it an ideal option for long-term preservation, especially as conditions on Earth continue to change rapidly.
A safe on the moon
Living creatures on Earth could be preserved in a lunar chamber, according to an article in the journal Life Sciences. The study’s authors “propose a passive lunar biorepository for the long-term storage of prioritized taxa of living cryopreserved samples to protect Earth’s biodiversity and support future space exploration and terraforming of the planet.”
Given that several species on Earth extinction because of Climate change and human actions, preservation on the moon could be one way to save them. “Initially, a lunar biorepository would target the most endangered species on Earth, but our ultimate goal would be to be able to cryopreserve most of Earth’s species,” said Mary Hagedorn, lead author of the paper, in a opinion.
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The samples would be preserved through a process called cryopreservation, which involves “putting biological material (such as sperm, cells and embryos) in a state where it is alive but frozen and can be thawed for future use” by “taking advantage of extreme cold,” said the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI).
While plant samples can be preserved at arctic temperatures, animal samples require much colder temperatures of at least -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius). Since such temperatures would be difficult and expensive to produce on Earth, the Moon may be a better option. The Moon’s polar regions contain permanently shadowed craters that can reach temperatures as low as -410 degrees Fahrenheit (-246 degrees Celsius) – ideal for sample preservation.
A shot in the dark
Since temperatures are much lower on the moon, biological samples are likely to be safer there. The idea of the biobank is modeled on the Global Seed Vault on Svalbard in Norway. The vault was set up in the Arctic Circle, and the region experienced flooding due to warmer temperatures in 2017, which posed a threat to the seeds. “If there had been no people there, a flood could have damaged the biobank,” Hagedorn told The Guardian. “The idea of having a truly safe, passive biobank to protect Earth’s biodiversity seems like a really good idea.” More broadly, “At a distance of approximately 384,000 kilometers from Earth, the Moon is protected from any unpredictable natural and/or geopolitical disasters that might strike our planet,” the NZCBI said.
Of course, a lunar biobank is not without its challenges. The logistics of creating a secure repository on the Moon present obstacles that include space radiation and the lack of gravity. These factors have yet to be explored using cryopreserved samples. Some are also concerned that a project of this scale would shift priorities. “A major concern is that the cost and effort of establishing such a resource on the Moon would be very high and would detract from ongoing conservation efforts, including meeting existing international commitments and plans to protect nature,” Rob Brooker, head of ecological sciences at the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, told CNN.
The biobank could also open up more opportunities for humanity. “It should help prevent natural disasters and possibly improve space travel,” Hagedorn said. “Life is precious and, as far as we know, rare in the universe. This biobank offers another, parallel approach to preserving Earth’s precious biodiversity.”
