Overview
- A NASA team published models in Science Advances showing that permanently or long‑term shadowed depressions near the Moon’s south pole can shield certain terrestrial microbes enough for cryptobiotic survival.
- The study examined specific terrains such as Nobile Rim, Connecting Ridge and De Gerlache Rim and used Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter elevation and temperature data together with radiation models to map protected micro‑environments.
- Researchers tested several organisms and found the fungus Aspergillus niger had the highest modeled tolerance to ultraviolet radiation and could remain viable in some modeled exposures.
- The authors stress that 'survive' means remaining viable for a limited time and does not imply microbes could grow, reproduce, or form colonies on the airless, dry lunar surface.
- NASA and the study team warn that human missions could inadvertently deposit microbes that contaminate samples or measurements, so they call for tougher sterilization, pre‑landing baseline surveys, and stricter planetary‑protection planning ahead of Artemis and other polar operations.