Earth's endangered species to be sent to the moon: Discover scientists' new plan to save them from extinction

(Representative Image: Canva)

In a bid to protect endangered species, scientists have unveiled a bold plan to store their DNA on the moon. This lunar "Noah's Ark" aims to preserve the genetic material of various species, providing a backup in case they go extinct on Earth.

The vision is to establish a biorepository on the moon, a specialised facility for storing frozen biological materials. Live tissue samples from numerous animal species would be housed in this lunar vault, ensuring their preservation even if they disappear from Earth.

The moon's north and south poles, where craters cast constant shadows and temperatures remain frigid at around -200 degrees Celsius, are ideal locations for this biorepository. These extreme cold conditions provide a stable environment for long-term storage.

According to a study published in the Oxford Academic journal BioScience, scientists argue that a lunar backup would complement existing Earth-based conservation efforts. NASA also has an interest in these lunar poles due to the presence of ice, which could support future human colonies.

Researchers from institutions like Harvard and the Smithsonian are developing methods to collect samples from endangered species, freeze them, and transport them to the moon. They are currently establishing protocols for this space storage initiative, starting with the starry goby fish.

Challenges include managing high radiation levels in space and ensuring the safe transport of samples. Existing biorepositories, like the one in Svalbard, Norway, are designed to withstand Earth's threats. However, the moon's extreme cold offers a stable climate that might not need a power source, making it an ideal backup location.

"A lunar biorepository would protect biodiversity and serve as a safeguard against its loss due to natural disasters, climate change, overpopulation, resource depletion, wars, socioeconomic threats, and other causes on Earth," the scientists write.

Their initial focus will be on cryopreserving animal skin samples with fibroblast cells, laying the groundwork for this visionary project to protect Earth's biodiversity.