They propose storing frozen samples of biodiversity on the Moon

Jul 31. () –

Faced with the threat of extinction of numerous species, an international team of researchers has proposed a innovative solution to protect the planet’s biodiversity: a lunar bio-repository.

This concept, detailed in a recent article in the journal ‘BioScience’ aims to create a long-term, passive storage facility for cryopreserved samples of Earth’s most endangered animal species. The work is by Dr. Mary Hagedorn of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The team plans to take advantage of the Moon’s naturally cold temperatures, particularly in the permanently shadowed regions near the poles, where temperatures are consistently below -196 degrees Celsius. These conditions are ideal for long-term storage of biological samples without the need for human intervention or power supply, two factors that could threaten the resilience of terrestrial repositories. Other key advantages of a lunar facility include protection from terrestrial natural disasters, climate change and geopolitical conflicts.

An initial goal in developing a lunar biorepository would be cryopreservation of animal skin samples using fibroblast cells. The team of authors has already begun developing protocols using the star-shaped goby (Asterropteryx semipunctata) as an exemplar species, with other species to follow. The authors also plan to “leverage continental-scale sampling currently underway at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Ecological Observatory Network 190 (NEON)” as a source for future development of fibroblast cells.

Among the challenges to be addressed are the development of robust packaging for space transportation, mitigation of radiation effects, and the establishment of complex international governance frameworks for the repository, as well as the need for extensive collaboration among nations, international agencies and stakeholders to make this decades-long programme a reality. Next steps include expanding partnerships, particularly with space research organizations, and conducting more tests on Earth and aboard the International Space Station.

Despite the challenges that need to be overcome, the authors stress that the need for action is acute: “Due to a myriad of anthropogenic factors, a large proportion of species and ecosystems face threats of destabilization and extinction that are accelerating.” faster than our ability to save these species in their natural environment”the authors conclude.