Scientists have come up with a bold plan to protect Earth’s biodiversity. They propose creating vaults on the Moon. These vaults would store DNA and cells of endangered species. This idea is similar to the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway. But instead of seeds, these lunar vaults would hold animal cells.
The proposal was published in the journal BioScience. The lead author is Mary Hagedorn, a research cryobiologist at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. The plan aims to safeguard Earth’s biodiversity from threats like climate change, natural disasters, and human activities.
Why the Moon?
The Moon is a unique location for such a vault. It is far from Earth and its many dangers. The Moon’s permanently shadowed craters are extremely cold. This makes them ideal for cryogenic preservation. Cryogenic preservation involves freezing biological material at very low temperatures. This process can keep DNA and cells intact for a long time.
On Earth, cryopreservation requires electricity and liquid nitrogen. These resources can be disrupted by natural disasters or human conflicts. The Moon’s cold environment eliminates the need for these resources. This makes the lunar vaults more reliable.
How It Works
The proposed lunar vaults would store cryogenically preserved samples of DNA and cells. These samples would come from endangered species. The vaults would be located in the Moon’s permanently shadowed craters. These craters are cold enough to keep the samples frozen without electricity or liquid nitrogen1.
The scientists plan to start with the most at-risk species. Over time, they hope to include a wide variety of species. The goal is to create a comprehensive backup of Earth’s biodiversity.
Challenges and Solutions
Creating lunar vaults is not without challenges. One major challenge is transporting the samples to the Moon. This would require collaboration with space agencies like NASA and ESA. Another challenge is protecting the samples from radiation and microgravity. The scientists plan to conduct experiments to address these issues.
The proposal also includes ideas for governance. This involves deciding who will manage the vaults and how the samples will be accessed. The scientists hope to find partners to help expand the conversation and conduct necessary research.
Inspiration from Svalbard
The idea of a lunar vault is inspired by the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard. This vault stores over a million seed varieties. It serves as a backup for the world’s crop biodiversity. However, the Svalbard vault faced a challenge in 2017. Thawing permafrost could flood the collection with meltwater. This incident showed that even a well-protected vault on Earth can be vulnerable.
Animal cells need lower storage temperatures than seeds. On Earth, this requires a constant supply of liquid nitrogen and electricity. The Moon’s naturally cold environment provides a more stable solution.
Future Prospects
The scientists believe that lunar vaults could play a crucial role in preserving Earth’s biodiversity. They also see potential for these vaults to support future space exploration. For example, the preserved samples could be used in efforts to terraform other planets.
The proposal is still in its early stages. The scientists are calling for more research and collaboration. They hope that by sharing their vision, they can find partners to help make the lunar vaults a reality.
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