The Moon on February 28, 2021. -

Jack Dredd // SIPA

Researchers presented in early March a project to store hundreds of millions of biological samples on the Moon.

The specialists have devised a structure allowing to keep on our satellite the elements allowing to recreate life on Earth.

This modern "ark" would thus house sperm, eggs, spores, DNA and seeds, a statement released on March 8 said.

Scientists at the University of Arizona (United States) indeed wish to protect the seeds of the 6.7 million animal and plant species inhabiting our planet from any major land disaster.

They explained how they plan to do this at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) annual conference held online.

Samples stored at -180 ° C

The researchers estimated that the lava tunnels naturally present on the moon and discovered in 2013 were a perfect storage site.

In their presentation relayed on YouTube, they indicated that these cavities offered "excellent protection against temperature changes on the surface of the Moon, cosmic radiation and micrometeorites".

Scientists take this as proof of the excellent state of conservation of these tunnels, which have nevertheless existed for 3 or 4 billion years.

These natural warehouses also have the advantage of being located only 4 or 5 days from Earth.

The American experts indicated that they wanted to store the samples at a maximum temperature of -180 ° C in a state of cryofreezing.

The project described as "a comprehensive and modern life insurance" would be supplied with energy by several solar panels installed on the Moon.

The structure would be equipped with several elevators and freight elevators.

Jekan Thanga, one of the leaders of the study, estimated at 250 the number of space trips necessary to transport to the Moon of about fifty specimens of each of the 6.7 million living species on Earth.

Science

VLC to send a construction cone to the moon to celebrate its 20th anniversary

Science

SpaceX: Is lunar tourism coming soon?

  • Science

  • Sperm

  • Moon

  • United States

  • Researchers

  • Scientists