'Lunar Zoo': Scientists Propose Sending Endangered Species on the Moon
In a groundbreaking proposal, scientists are planning to preserve Earth’s endangered species by creating a cryogenic storage facility on the Moon. This ambitious idea involves using the Moon’s naturally cold, shadowy craters to store biological material, potentially protecting species from catastrophic events on Earth without relying on electricity or liquid nitrogen.
Research from the Smithsonian Institution, recently published in BioScience, highlights the Moon’s craters as an ideal location for cryopreservation. Building on successful methods used to preserve fish skin samples, the study outlines a plan to develop a lunar biorepository for various species.
Mary Hagedorn, a research cryobiologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and lead author of the study, explained, “Our initial focus will be on the most endangered species on Earth, with the long-term goal of preserving as many species as possible.”
The team hopes that by sharing this vision, they can attract partners to discuss threats, explore opportunities, and advance the research needed to make this lunar biorepository a reality.
