Earth microbes might survive on the moon in shadowed polar regions, new research indicates

A new study suggests that certain Earth bacteria and fungi could survive on the moon in a dormant state, particularly in permanently shadowed regions at the lunar poles. The researchers combined microbial survival data with lunar temperature and radiation maps to identify potential habitable pockets. Even small disturbances like a bootprint might create sheltered microenvironments.

The study builds on earlier findings that lunar surface conditions—especially solar ultraviolet radiation and heat—are lethal to most organisms. By overlaying microbial survival data with high-resolution temperature and radiation maps, the researchers identified specific polar pockets where conditions might permit cryptobiosis, a dormant state. These zones are often in permanently shadowed craters, where ice has been confirmed. The researchers note that even minor disturbances, such as a bootprint or rover track, could create sheltered microenvironments by altering local heat and radiation exposure.

The findings carry direct implications for planetary protection. NASA’s Artemis III mission, targeting the lunar south pole, could inadvertently transport Earth microbes to these fragile regions. Additionally, the study raises the possibility that ancient asteroid impacts may have delivered Earth-origin microbes to the moon, potentially preserving them as a biological record of our planet’s past.