Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Space
Space
Science
Leonard David

Scientists call for a secure lunar quarantine facility for extraterrestrial samples: 'The moon may become humanity's first line of biological defense'

An illustration of astronauts walking among geodesic domes on the surface of the moon with the earth visible in the background.

A team of researchers is advocating to use the moon as a secure site for biocontainment of extraterrestrial samples, particularly those from Mars, but also from other potential worlds like Enceladus, a moon of Saturn.

The researchers contend that our moon offers a naturally sterile and isolated environment that can act as humanity's first line of biological defense against organisms perhaps harmful to Earth and its life.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.