'Lunar zoo': Scientists plan to save endangered species by taking them to the Moon

Lunar biorepository would target the most at-risk species on Earth today by cryopreserving them

A group of scientists has proposed an ambitious plan to preserve Earth's biodiversity by creating a cryogenic biorepository on the Moon. The proposal aims to safeguard species in the event of catastrophic disasters on Earth, utilising the Moon's permanently shadowed craters, which are naturally cold enough for cryogenic preservation without the need for electricity or liquid nitrogen.

According to research led by scientists from the Smithsonian Institution, and published last week in the journal BioScience, the Moon's cold, dark craters provide an ideal location for storing biological material. The study builds on successful cryopreservation techniques demonstrated with skin samples from fish, outlining a method for creating a biorepository to protect samples of various species.

“Initially, a lunar biorepository would target the most at-risk species on Earth today, but our ultimate goal would be to cryopreserve most species on Earth,” said Mary Hagedorn, a research cryobiologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and the lead author of the paper.

“We hope that by sharing our vision, our group can find additional partners to expand the conversation, discuss threats and opportunities, and conduct the necessary research and testing to make this biorepository a reality.”

The concept of the lunar biorepository takes inspiration from the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway's Arctic region. This vault stores over a million seed varieties to preserve crop diversity. However, it faced a threat in 2017 from meltwater flooding caused by thawing permafrost, underscoring the risks posed by climate change.

Unlike plant cells, which can be preserved in Arctic conditions, animal cells require much colder temperatures—at least -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius). Maintaining such temperatures on Earth demands a steady supply of liquid nitrogen, electricity, and human resources, all of which could be compromised in a global disaster.

To mitigate this risk, Hagedorn and her team explored passive cryopreservation methods, which are not feasible on Earth. The Moon's polar regions offer a potential solution with craters that remain in permanent shadow, reaching temperatures as low as -410 degrees Fahrenheit (-246 degrees Celsius).

The researchers also addressed the challenge of protecting samples from radiation that could damage DNA. They suggested storing samples underground or within structures built from lunar rocks. Further studies are required to understand the effects of radiation exposure and microgravity on cryopreserved samples.

“We aren’t saying what if the Earth fails – if the Earth is biologically destroyed, this biorepository won’t matter,” Hagedorn explained in a statement. “This is meant to help offset natural disasters and, potentially, to augment space travel. Life is precious and, as far as we know, rare in the universe. This biorepository provides another, parallel approach to conserving Earth’s precious biodiversity.”

Rob Brooker, head of ecological sciences at the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, who was not involved in the research, commented on the paper, saying, "It is an interesting and provocative article that highlights the loss of Earth’s biodiversity and the critical need to increase our efforts for nature conservation."

"However, a major concern is that the cost and effort involved in establishing such a resource on the Moon would be very substantial and would detract from ongoing conservation efforts, including delivering existing international commitments and plans to protect nature," Brooker told CNN.

However, many scientists think that sending rockets to moon for the conservation is a costly thought experiment to apply. They said it is rather easy to save forests, coral reefs and other natural habitats with relatively much low cost.