Scientists at the University of Arizona have proposed an ark, dubbed the “modern global insurance policy” for 6.7 million species on Earth, cryogenically preserved and hidden inside a series of caves and tunnels beneath the moon’s surface.
They said the safe could protect genetic material in the event of “total annihilation of the Earth”, which would be triggered by a major decline in biodiversity – but any move to build such a bunker is far from over.
“Earth is naturally a volatile environment,” said Jekan Thanga, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona College of Engineering, in a statement.
“As humans, we had a strong appeal about 75,000 years ago with the supervolcanic eruption of Toba, which caused a cooling period of 1,000 years and, according to some, is in line with an estimated decline in human diversity. Because human civilization has such a large footprint, if it collapsed, it could have a negative cascading effect on the rest of the planet. “
Similar symbols exist on Earth: The Global Seed Vault, which hosts just under 1 million seed samples, is located on a remote island in Svalbard, an archipelago between Norway and the North Pole.
In a paper presented earlier this month, the team at the University of Arizona believes that their concept could save life on Earth in the event of the destruction of the planet we call home.
The researchers said the project depends on advances in cryobiotic technology – to be cryopreserved, the seeds must be cooled to minus 292 Fahrenheit, while stem cells must be stored at minus 320 Fahrenheit. But the team says that at such temperatures, the metal parts of the base could freeze, block or cold weld together.
Also, scientists do not yet understand how a lack of gravity could affect preserved seeds or how to communicate with a terrestrial base.
Experts discovered a network of about 200 lava tubes below the moon’s surface in 2013, which formed when lava flows melted through soft rock to form underground tunnels billions of years ago.
Scientists believe that the tubes have a diameter of 100 meters – could provide the perfect shelter for precious goods, protecting it from solar radiation, surface temperature changes and micrometeorites.
Powered by solar panels, the underground ark would be accessed by elevator shafts, which would lead to an installation that stores cryogenic preservation modules.
Scientists say it would take 250 rocket launches to carry about 50 samples from each of the 6.7 million species on the moon.
Some constructions are already scheduled to take place on the Moon for another project.