{"id":56595,"date":"2024-04-02T07:43:55","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T07:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eab2f2c8-7ced-436b-9159-18debd930a24"},"modified":"2024-04-02T09:09:47","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T09:09:47","slug":"a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction\/","title":{"rendered":"A Lunar Ark seed vault on the Moon could ensure Earth&#8217;s survival in the face of mass-extinction"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">Forget the Arctic seed bank, the Lunar Ark could provide the ultimate planetary insurance for our survival. <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Shaoni Bhattacharya\n      <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Tuesday, 02 April 2024 at 07:43 AM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>Have you ever heard of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault? It&#8217;s a seed-storage facility located on a remote island between Norway and the North Pole, packed with crop sets representing Earth&#8217;s floral biodiversity.<\/p><p>The vault stores seeds of crops from around the world as a sort of insurance policy for Earth&#8217;s food supply.<\/p><p>But what if we could do the same for plants and animals, and store them somewhere beyond our planet in case of a mass-extinction event?<\/p><p>This is the idea behind the Lunar Ark. To find out more, we spoke to Dr Jekan Thanga from the department of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arizona.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Arizona<\/a>.<\/p><p><em><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/em><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/antarctic-snow-supernovae-universe\/\"><em><strong>What can Antarctic snow tell us about the Universe?<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/mushrooms-on-mars-how-nasa-could-grow-astronaut-bases-using-fungi\/\"><em><strong>Mushrooms on Mars: NASA could grow bases using fungi<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/penguin-poo-sentinel-2-satellite\/\"><em><strong>ESA\u2019s Sentinel-2 satellite is hunting penguin poo from space<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit: University of Arizona<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-what-is-the-lunar-ark\"><b>What is the Lunar Ark?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">The Lunar Ark is a backup storage of Earth\u2019s biodiversity on the Moon, inspired by the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. We would store animal sperm and eggs, plant seeds, spores and maybe stem cells.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We haven\u2019t said we have a total solution, because the restoring process is far from easy!<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We can\u2019t just take the egg and the sperm and say &#8220;okay, a new creature\u2019s going to come out,&#8221; without something like a uterus \u2013 so those specimens have to be advanced or even artificially made.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-why-build-a-lunar-ark\"><b>Why build <\/b><b>a Lunar Ark?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">I lead a group looking at areas of space exploration, and one of these has been the threat from asteroids.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">In 2013, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/chelyabinsk-meteorite\">Chelyabinsk meteor<\/a> came out of nowhere and caused a 500 kiloton explosion (Hiroshima was 15 kilotons) above Russia.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Another dangerous threat was the Carrington Event; a solar storm that disrupted Earth\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/what-are-magnetic-fields-how-do-they-affect-universe\/\">magnetic field<\/a> in 1859.<\/p><p class=\"p4\">What we can take from these examples is that we have to deal with space threats \u2013 they are not just science fiction.<\/p><p class=\"p4\">We are developing systems for early detection, but we\u2019ve realised that maybe we can\u2019t fully contain these problems.<\/p><p class=\"p4\">We are always thinking about facing a cataclysm rather than avoiding it.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2021\/09\/GettyImages-513189256-96c066d.jpg\" alt=\"The Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Could we build something similar for plants and animals on the Moon? Credit: JUNGE, HEIKO\/AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"wp-image-99704\" title=\"The Svalbard Global Seed Vault\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Could we build something similar for plants and animals on the Moon? Credit: JUNGE, HEIKO\/AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-how-have-lunar-lava-tubes-helped\"><b>How have lunar lava tubes helped?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">Our collaborators at Arizona State University discovered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/marius-hills-moon-cave-lava-tubes\/\">lava tubes on the Moon<\/a> in 2012.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We realised that there is, just 4\u20135 days away from us, somewhere that has been untouched for 3\u20134 billion years.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">This is where we would store the stuff that\u2019s most precious in the event of a cataclysm.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-how-would-you-put-an-ark-on-the-moon\"><b>How would you put an ark on the Moon?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">There are impacts and craters on the Moon, but it is well-protected because of Earth\u2019s bigger size and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-science\/what-is-gravity-facts-about-force\">gravity<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We still have the threat of micro-meteorites, but the lava tubes are a natural shield: they are 80\u2013100m below ground, at a constant temperature of \u201320\u00baC.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We envisage storing everything at \u2013180\u00baC or \u2013196\u00baC for cryopreservation. So we need this refrigeration \u2013 that\u2019s the final piece of engineering we have to figure out.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is at \u201318\u00baC, which is specialised enough for seeds.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Here, we are going after a more ambitious technology: the idea is to save 6.7 million species. Maybe we can start by replicating Svalbard on the Moon.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4000\" height=\"2250\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2021\/09\/2F6MK1J-754d879.jpg\" alt=\"The Lunar Ark\u2019s cryogenic storage could be powered by solar panels. Credit: 3000ad\/Alamy Stock Photo\" class=\"wp-image-99707\" title=\"The Lunar Ark\u2019s cryogenic storage could be powered by solar panels. Credit: 3000ad\/Alamy Stock Photo\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Lunar Ark\u2019s cryogenic storage could be powered by solar panels. Credit: 3000ad\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-how-would-the-lunar-ark-work\"><b>How would the Lunar Ark work?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">To save each species, we need a viable population number, which is anywhere between 50 to 500 individuals.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We would keep eggs and sperm in 100ml fluid bags \u2013 under half a soft drink can\u2019s worth of fluid per species.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">The total is about five to six train cart-sized compartments with cryopreservation units inside.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">These carts would need to be about 10m in diameter and 25m-long to fit them on a rocket.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">These units could then be stored in a way that\u2019s similar to a library, but where you could check out a species.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-what-would-you-construct-on-the-moon\"><b>What would you construct on the Moon?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">We would transport everything from Earth, so it\u2019s prefabricated.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">The overall size of the building structure is like a small, regional airport, with a runway. We\u2019ll also use solar panels to power the Lunar Ark.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2124\" height=\"1411\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2021\/09\/GettyImages-523421917-3165e80.jpg\" alt=\"Could a lunar ark be our best insurance for safeguarding Earth's biodiversity? Credit: Georgette Douwma \/ Getty Images\" class=\"wp-image-99706\" title=\"Could a lunar ark be our best insurance for safeguarding Earth's biodiversity? Credit: Georgette Douwma \/ Getty Images\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Could a lunar ark be our best insurance for safeguarding Earth&#8217;s biodiversity? Credit: Georgette Douwma \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\" id=\"h-how-would-we-access-the-lunar-ark\"><b>How would we access the Lunar Ark?<\/b><\/h2><p class=\"p2\">The Ark will need a logistics base, which won\u2019t rely on Earth, and its job is to provide emergency transport.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Transport back from the Moon to Earth is a lot easier than the other way because of gravity.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">The main energy barrier is getting off the lunar surface. Then, Earth\u2019s gravity dominates.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">It doesn\u2019t get you back in the fastest time, but there\u2019s a little fuel involved.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">We also presume if you are building up a space insurance policy for our prolonged future \u2013 that technology will advance.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Maybe 30\u201340 years from now we\u2019ll have other ways of transport \u2013 not just rockets.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forget the Arctic seed bank, the Lunar Ark could provide the ultimate planetary insurance for our survival. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":56596,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-scaled.jpg",2560,1440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-1024x576.jpg",800,450,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2024\/04\/a-lunar-ark-seed-vault-on-the-moon-could-ensure-earths-survival-in-the-face-of-mass-extinction-2048x1152.jpg",2048,1152,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Forget the Arctic seed bank, the Lunar Ark could provide the ultimate planetary insurance for our survival.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/56595"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}