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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

By Gennaro Tomma

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

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).