Science, Space and Technology News 2024
An international team of researchers has proposed establishing a lunar biorepository to preserve cryopreserved samples of Earth’s most endangered species, utilizing the Moon’s cold temperatures for long-term storage without human intervention. Led by Dr. Mary Hagedorn, this initiative aims to protect biodiversity from Earth-based threats and involves collaboration across nations and disciplines, despite facing challenges such as radiation and the need for robust space transport.
Faced with the threat of extinction for numerous species, an international team of researchers has suggested a groundbreaking solution to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity: a lunar biorepository. As outlined in a recent article in the journal, this plan involves establishing a passive, enduring storage facility on the moon for cryopreserved samples of Earth’s most endangered animal species.
Led by Dr. Mary Hagedorn of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the team envisions taking advantage of the Moon’s naturally cold temperatures, particularly in permanently shadowed regions near the poles, where temperatures remain consistently below –196 degrees. Such conditions are ideal for long-term storage of biological samples without the need for human intervention or power supplies, two factors that could threaten the resilience of Earth-based repositories.
Challenges to be addressed include developing robust packaging for space transport, mitigating radiation effects, and establishing the complex international governance frameworks for the repository. The authors call for broad collaboration among nations, agencies, and international stakeholders to realize this decades-long program.
Reference: “Safeguarding Earth’s biodiversity by creating a lunar biorepository” by Mary Hagedorn, Lynne R Parenti, Robert A Craddock, Pierre Comizzoli, Paula Mabee, Bonnie Meinke, Susan M Wolf, John C Bischof, Rebecca D Sandlin, Shannon N Tessier and Mehmet Toner, 31 July 2024,SciTechDaily: Home of the best science and technology news since 1998. Keep up with the latest scitech news via email or social media.Researchers have long studied how consciousness forms in the brain.
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