News Planetary Science

Microbes might get freeze-dried on the moon’s south pole

Unchecked, hitchhiking microbes could potentially contaminate lunar research

A photo of an astronaut in a space suit collecting a regolith sample on the moon's surface.

For the first time in 50 years, Artemis IV will put people on the moon — this time, at the south pole. Astronauts will need to be careful of stowaway microbes that could contaminate their research samples.

NASA

By Libby Riddle

Certain hardy microbes could survive on the moon.

Previous lunar missions explored the moon’s equator, where high ultraviolet radiation and daily temperature swings make the surface inhospitable to life.