Moonshot for Life: Smithsonian's Lunar Biodiversity Preservation Project

Space Café Podcast - Navigating Our Interplanetary Aspirations

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In episode 113 of the Space Cafe Podcast, host Markus explores a groundbreaking concept with Dr. Mary Hagedorn, a distinguished researcher at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. The discussion centers on the ambitious idea of creating a backup of Earth's biodiversity on the Moon.Key Topics:

• The critical state of coral reefs and the impact of climate change
• The concept of a lunar biorepository for safeguarding genetic material
• Technical, logistical, and ethical aspects of the project
• Implications for conservation, space exploration, and Earth's future

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction to the Space Cafe Podcast
00:43 Exploring the concept of "Planet B"
01:48 Meet Dr. Mary Hagedorn
03:44 Current state of coral reefs
04:45 The ecological significance of corals
06:46 Conservation challenges and efforts
09:43 Cryopreservation and biorepositories
19:58 The Moon as a potential biorepository
29:36 Strategic selection of key species for preservation
30:38 Challenges in genetic diversity and permitting
31:24 Sampling and preservation techniques
38:16 Citizen science and global collaboration
43:25 Philosophical and practical considerations for space colonization
46:45 Technical challenges and future prospects
01:02:34 Inspirational vision and call to actionThis episode offers a fascinating look at the intersection of conservation biology and space exploration, presenting innovative solutions to preserve Earth's biodiversity for future generations.

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