University of Minnesota, Research & Innovation Office (RIO)’s Post

🌍🚀 Did you know? Researchers are exploring the possibility of storing biological samples on the moon to safeguard Earth’s endangered biodiversity! Scientists from the University of Minnesota and the Smithsonian Institution are leading a groundbreaking proposal to create a lunar biorepository. This innovative plan leverages the moon’s naturally cold craters to cryopreserve biological materials without the need for electricity or liquid nitrogen. Inspired by the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, this lunar vault could provide a backup for Earth’s biodiversity, protecting it from natural disasters and potentially aiding future space travel. While this visionary project is still in development, Biostór continues to provide world-class bio-storage solutions right here on Earth. With state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies, we ensure the safe preservation of critical biological materials, supporting the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries globally. Get in contact now for more information! #Biodiversity #SpaceScience #Cryopreservation #LunarResearch #Biostorage #ConservationInnovation #Biostor #BiostorIreland

Our precious blue world is in crisis. Countless species are on the brink of #extinction due to human-induced #climatechange and habitat destruction. Time is running out. What if we could defy the odds? What if we could build a refuge outside our globe, where life could persist, albeit passively, for millennia? Researchers have proposed an audacious and innovative solution: establishing a “biorepository” on the moon’s naturally cold surface areas. Through this, the experts want to preserve genetic material from endangered species. Mary Hagedorn, the lead author from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, explained to Interesting Engineering (#IE) what inspired the idea for an off-world gene bank. “I had been thinking about how to protect species (plants and animals that have to be cryopreserved) in a passive biorepository like the Svalbard Seed Vault where no people or energy are needed to maintain the seeds,” Hagedorn shared. “There is no place on Earth cold enough to have a passive repository that must be held at -196°C, so we thought about space or the moon.” The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a secure underground storage facility that preserves a vast collection of crop seeds. It is based on the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. The plan of lunar biobank Hagedorn and the team propose that moon’s Permanently Shadowed Regions (#PSRs) will be an ideal place to set up this biorepository. Deep, cratered terrain blocks sunlight from reaching the interiors of these regions. As a result, PSRs are among the coldest places in the solar system – with temperatures dropping to as low as –196 degrees Celsius (liquid nitrogen temperature). These frigid temperatures allow for long-term storage without human care or energy. Moreover, this lunar facility will safeguard samples from terrestrial disasters, climate change, and conflicts. Surprisingly, the cryopreserved samples could remain stable without deterioration for hundreds of years. The proposed process involves cryogenically storing samples on #Earth before encasing them in a radiation-shielded container for the three-day lunar journey. Once on the moon, these containers will be positioned in permanently shadowed areas and buried beneath two meters of lunar soil to provide maximum radiation protection. Each container will be equipped with a radio chip for easy tracking. A challenging goal “There are many challenges, but a big one is how we get the samples into the Permanently Shadowed Region because people and robots do not work well at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Then, how do we bury the samples to prevent radiation damage,” Hagedorn told IE. Alternatively, containers could be encased using potential future moon cement technology, which is currently being made by many companies. Subsequently, these just need to be dropped on the light-devoid regions.

**The Intricacies of Astrobiological Engineering: Pioneering the Search for Extraterrestrial Habitats** Astrobiological engineering merges biology, space science, and environmental design to develop technologies for extraterrestrial habitation. Recent breakthroughs include bioengineered microorganisms capable of surviving extreme Martian conditions and advanced habitat models mimicking Earth’s biosphere in microgravity. Researchers are also exploring the viability of using genetic engineering to create crops that can thrive in alien soils. This interdisciplinary field not only aims to expand our understanding of life’s adaptability but also prepares us for potential interstellar colonization. As we refine these technologies, we edge closer to answering one of humanity's oldest questions: Are we alone? #AstrobiologicalEngineering #SpaceHabitation #ExtraterrestrialLife

Dive into the details of EMBL’s TREC project, a groundbreaking expedition dedicated to understanding coastal ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes. The team is collecting samples from European coastlines and analyzing them to explore biodiversity and molecular adaptability of microbial organisms like phytoplankton. Cryo-EM techniques have enabled researchers to study the molecular architecture of single celled organisms. Watch the full video to learn more about the TREC project and the impact of cryo-EM on structural biology. https://ter.li/itdh3o #cryoEM #CoastalBiology #StructuralBiology #EMBL

Dive into the details of EMBL’s TREC project, a groundbreaking expedition dedicated to understanding coastal ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes. The team is collecting samples from European coastlines and analyzing them to explore biodiversity and molecular adaptability of microbial organisms like phytoplankton. Cryo-EM techniques have enabled researchers to study the molecular architecture of single celled organisms. Watch the full video to learn more about the TREC project and the impact of cryo-EM on structural biology. https://ter.li/itdh3o #cryoEM #CoastalBiology #StructuralBiology #EMBL

According to a study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, scientists have determined that life on Earth emerged around 591 to 565 million years ago due to changes in the magnetic field that led to increased oxygen levels, creating suitable conditions for the evolution of ancient species. Life began with single-celled organisms approximately 3.7 billion years ago, evolving into multicellular organisms around 1.7 billion years ago. The emergence of animals occurred about 580 million years ago during the Ediacaran period, initially with soft-bodied creatures. However, between 575 and 565 million years ago, these organisms began evolving into more complex beings, facilitated by rising oxygen levels. Oxygen is crucial for evolutionary innovation and meeting the energy demands of animals, with complex ecosystems requiring even higher oxygen levels to support long food chains and predators. #clickmepakistan #earth #scientists #magneticfields #atmosphere

Scientists Reveal Hidden Wonders in Deep-Sea Coral Researchers have discovered two new and unusual species of bacteria in deep-sea coral in the Gulf of Mexico, opening new doors to our understanding of life in extreme environments. Published in Nature Communications, this groundbreaking finding has ignited a wave of curiosity and scientific discourse. In the silent, shadowy depths of the Gulf of Mexico, marine biologists have stumbled upon an astonishing discovery. These newly identified bacterial species reside within the tissues of soft coral, thriving in an environment devoid of light. This profound finding not only expands our understanding of these remarkable organisms but also hints at the vast potential of life forms flourishing under the ocean's canopy. These deep-sea bacteria represent an untapped reservoir of genetic diversity, offering novel insights into evolutionary biology and ecology. By delving into their unique mechanisms of survival, scientists aim to unravel how they effectuate energy production and adapt to such inhospitable conditions. "The ocean is a vast expanse of mystery, and its depths may hold solutions to challenges we haven’t even thought of yet," mused renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. Emphasizing the importance of this discovery, researchers are now advocating for increased scientific exploration of deep-sea environments. The immense possibilities include developments in biotechnology and medicine, such as new antibiotics and possibly even cancer treatments. #CurrentTrendsInScience Source : The Washington Post

Dive into the details of EMBL’s TREC project, a groundbreaking expedition dedicated to understanding coastal ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes. The team is collecting samples from European coastlines and analyzing them to explore biodiversity and molecular adaptability of microbial organisms like phytoplankton. Cryo-EM techniques have enabled researchers to study the molecular architecture of single celled organisms. Watch the full video to learn more about the TREC project and the impact of cryo-EM on structural biology. https://ter.li/itdh3o #cryoEM #CoastalBiology #StructuralBiology #EMBL

Watch this video to see how Thermo Fisher Scientific is enabling researchers to protect the environment with Cryo-EM.

[Marine Biology Tech and Innovations] Marine biology as a scientific field Marine biology is a scientific field that explores the organisms and ecosystems of the ocean. It . . . https://lnkd.in/dntb8eJQ