There Will Be Life on the Moon

China hopes to create a “mini biosphere” on the dark side of the Moon, with flowers and silkworms sharing their life together as they grow on the lifeless lunar surface. The plan to create life in outer space will be a milestone in human history, and the dream that humans will one day live on the Moon might come true in the near future. The insects, plants, potato seeds and arabidopsis — a small flowering plant — will be taken to the Moon. They will be placed in a small tin. A small tube will direct natural sunlight into the tin to help the plants and potato seeds grow. Although known as the “dark side” as it is unseen, the far side of the Moon receives sunlight almost equal to the near side. Then the “mini biosphere” will see the plants giving off oxygen, which will feed the silkworms hatching from their cocoons. Meanwhile, the silkworms will create carbon dioxide and produce waste that will allow the plants to grow. Unlike growing plants in the International Space Station — 400 kilometres above the Earth, the environment on the Moon, 380,000 kilometres from the Earth, is more complicated. The development of living organisms would be at risk from the harsh climate on the Moon, where temperatures range from lower than-100°C to higher than 100°C. The temperature in the “mini biosphere” has to be kept between 1°C and 30°C.