Scientists want to send endangered species’ cells to the moon

The ‘lunar ark’ would preserve samples from animals and other organisms

A photo of Earth taken by a NASA spacecraft in orbit around the moon

A NASA spacecraft in orbit around the moon captured this image of Earth. As threats from climate change and human activities mount on the planet, scientists are proposing to build a biobank on the moon that would preserve Earth’s endangered species.

GSFC/NASA, ASU

As more and more species near extinction, scientists have been collecting samples from animals, plants and other creatures and storing them in biorepositories across the globe (SN: 5/8/19).