science π¦ Moon microbes might hang out near poles π¬
Earth microbes are expected to contaminate the Moon during future missions to the south pole. NASA scientists found that permanent shadows near the poles shield organisms from harmful UV radiation. Specifically, five microbes, including Aspergillus niger, could survive for weeks in these shaded spots. This contamination could complicate the study of pristine lunar chemistry and volatile compounds. However, researchers suggest tracking these microbes could turn it into a unique survival experiment.