science π¬ NASA finds potential lunar survival zones for Earth germs π¬
A new NASA study indicates certain human and spacecraft microbes might survive for a limited time on the Moon's surface. The research, conducted by Prabal Saxena at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, examined five microbes near the South Pole. These findings suggest astronauts could inadvertently bring life that persists in protected lunar spots. This complicates identifying if Moon signatures are truly native or human-related contamination. Scientists stress that a microbial baseline must be established before more human activity begins.