In light of escalating environmental challenges, from climate change to the loss of natural habitats, the preservation of biodiversity has become more urgent than ever. While international efforts to protect endangered species on Earth are accelerating, a bold and completely new idea has emerged: transporting and preserving these species on the Moon! This may sound like science fiction; however, scientists and researchers have begun exploring the possibility of turning this concept into reality. The objective of this idea is to use the Moon as a secure backup station to safeguard the genes and living organisms of endangered animals, away from the dangers they face on our planet. In this report, we will review the scientific background of this idea, the ongoing efforts to achieve it, and the challenges faced by such an ambitious project.
#### Lunar Biorepository
This proposal was presented in a new research paper titled "Protecting Earth's Biodiversity through the Establishment of a Lunar Biorepository," published in the journal BioScience. The scientists claim that the lunar storage facility would allow the retention of samples from the most endangered species on Earth, thus enabling their preservation without the risks posed to our planet. This could serve as a means to maintain a long-term record of animals we may lose on Earth, as they would be "cryopreserved" to keep them in a viable state.
In a new article authored by a team led by Mary Hagedorn from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, researchers envision building a storage facility on the Moon's surface. It is expected to be located in areas near the Moon's poles, which remain in permanent shadow and have temperatures below -196 degrees Celsius, allowing the facility to act like a freezer. Researchers anticipate that this will permit long-term storage of biological samples.
Storing these animals on the Moon would eliminate the need for human intervention or a continuous energy source to maintain the cooling of the storage facility, both of which are considered principal challenges for any similar repository on Earth. Furthermore, the facility would be protected from other dangers such as natural disasters, climate change, and geopolitical conflicts. The facility could be used to preserve samples of animal skin that include stem cells from which the skin components were derived.
The team has already started planning how to execute this with samples of the starry stonefish, which will be used as an example and test case. However, researchers noted several challenges that could pose problems for the plan, including securely transporting samples through space to the Moon, protecting them from radiation, and uniting countries and organizations worldwide to construct and protect the facility. Conversely, the researchers pointed out that action is needed despite these challenges, as "the threats of extinction are accelerating faster than our ability to save these species in their natural habitats," as stated in the research paper.
#### A Step Towards a Safe Future
Preserving endangered animals on the Moon is an ambitious idea that reflects innovation and creativity in addressing significant environmental challenges. Although this concept may seem far-fetched today, ongoing advancements in science and technology could make it a reality in the near future. This initiative could provide a safe haven on the Moon, offering unprecedented protection for biodiversity, away from the environmental hazards and human conflicts that threaten life on Earth.
Nevertheless, the bigger question remains: when will humanity take action to protect itself from the dangers it faces on Earth? As we continue to explore space and find new solutions for protecting biodiversity, we must remember that safeguarding our planet and its environment should remain our top priority. Efforts to save living beings from extinction will only bear fruit if accompanied by serious steps to protect the natural environment we all depend on.
Protecting endangered animals on the Moon may constitute a first step in a new direction, but we must also commit to taking effective and sustainable actions on Earth. Through international collaboration, technological innovation, and environmental awareness, we can ensure the survival of endangered animals as well as the preservation of the planet that is our home. The future demands a comprehensive commitment to protecting life in all its forms, perhaps even more so on Earth than in space.
