KOMPAS.com- Although who knows when it will happen, researchers continue to seek ways to save life in advance Earth if one day a bad scenario befalls Earth. For one thing, scientists plan to make ‘Noah’s ark‘ of Month.
For example, an asteroid impact or a super volcano eruption that can destroy life on the planet.
As quoted from Live Science, Monday (15/3/2021) recently scientists proposed to make a ‘Noah’s Ark’ on the Moon just in case the time of ‘apocalypse’ arrives.
The ark will later save genetic material cryogenically preserved of the 6.7 million species of living things on Earth, including the sperm, eggs, and seeds of millions of Earth’s species.
Also read: Not only the Earth on the Moon also has a lot of garbage, this is NASA’s explanation
The ark or gene bank would be securely placed in a tunnel or cave formed by lava (lunar lava tube) more than 3 billion years ago and will be powered by solar panels on it.
“There is a strong connection between us and nature. We have a responsibility to be stewards of biodiversity and the means to preserve it,” said Jekan Thanga, lead author and head of the Space and Terrestrial Robot Exploration (SpaceTREx) laboratory at the University of Arizona, United States of America.
Not all the technology needed for this ambitious project exists, but researchers think that the ark month can realistically build in the next 30 years.
“I like to use a data analogy. It’s (the genetic material of the Earth species in Noah’s ark) like copying your photos and documents from a computer to hard disk separate. So you have a backup in case something goes wrong, “said Thanga.
Also read: Hungarian Scientists Develop Water-Tracking Rover on the Moon
Therefore, if one day an apocalyptic event that destroys nature or wipes out most of humanity, there will be an opportunity to ‘press the reset button’.
What is meant by events that threaten the existence of biodiversity on Earth include supervolcanic eruptions, global nuclear war, asteroid impacts, pandemics, accelerated climate change, solar storms, and global drought.
“The environment and human civilization are both very fragile. There are many of these very tragic circumstances that could happen,” said Thanga.
Creating genetic reserves to conserve biodiversity is not a new concept.
Also read: The mystery of the disappearance of the moon from heaven 1 millennium ago, what is the cause?
Previously, The Svalbard Global Seed Vault located in the Arctic Circle in Norway also stores genetic samples of plant species from around the world and has been used to reintroduce certain plants into the wild.
However, the place is still at risk of being destroyed by rising sea levels or an asteroid impact.
Researchers argue that only by storing genetic information elsewhere in the Solar System, we can confirm if that place is able to withstand any threats on Earth.
Scientists present a plan to build a moon ark like their ‘Noah’s ship’ at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, Sunday (7/3/2021).
Also read: First space exploration, Turkey will reach the moon in 2023
– .