Life on Earth has faced immense challenges in recent years. The pandemic, heatwaves and natural disasters remind us how fragile our existence is. These events fuel the argument for finding a new home in space where humanity could reproduce and thrive.

However, for humans to live and grow on other planets, we must first understand whether it is possible to have children in space. This is a crucial question because reproduction is essential for population growth in a new environment.

To address this problem, scientists are conducting new experiments involving freeze-dried mouse sperm stored aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The results could provide vital information about the possibility of mammals breeding beyond Earth.

Frozen sperm experiment in space

Freeze-dried mouse sperm is currently stored on the SSI in an environment protected against radiation.

In 2025, the samples will return to Earth, where Professor Teruhiko Wakayama of Japan Yamanashi University will study them. It aims to determine the impact of space environment on reproduction and assess whether these samples can create healthy offspring.

Wakayama has ambitious goals. He is developing a device allowing astronauts to carry out in vitro fertilization (IVF) of rodents on board the ISS. This could pave the way for human reproduction in space and could even help safeguard Earth’s genetic diversity.

“Our goal is to establish a system to safely and permanently preserve Earth’s genetic resources somewhere in space – whether on the Moon or elsewhere – so that life can resume even if Earth is facing catastrophic destruction,” Wakayama said.

Send mouse sperm into space

Wakayama is no stranger to pushing scientific boundaries. In 1997, he co-developed a method to clone the first mouse from adult cells. Since then, he has carried out various studies on reproduction in space.

His team developed a freeze-drying method to send mouse sperm to the ISS, where it was stored for six years. When the sperm returned, they gave birth to healthy baby mice.

The results revealed that freeze-dried sperm could remain viable for up to 200 years in space.

“This is absolutely not long enough for our future,” Wakayama admits. He is currently testing a new radiation-resistant storage device to indefinitely extend the viability of reproductive cells.

Creatures that reproduced in space

Scientists have long studied terrestrial organisms in space to understand how microgravity and cosmic radiation affect biological processes.

In 1989, fertilized chicken eggs traveled into space in an experiment dubbed “Chix in Space.” Frogs and fish have also bred in space, but with mixed success. In 2007, a cockroach gave birth to offspring conceived in orbit, although the young had some abnormalities.

“We have seen that most specific phases of the reproductive cycle can take place in space, at least in one or two species, but not always successfully. Looking at mammals is the natural next step,” explained Virginia Wotring, professor at the International Space University in France.

The challenge of sustaining life

Human reproduction in space faces significant obstacles. Cosmic radiation can damage DNA, increasing the risk of genetic abnormalities in offspring. Microgravity can interfere with embryo development, including critical processes like nervous system and limb formation.

“We need more information right now to be able to take care of the astronauts we are currently sending into space,” Wotring said. Immediate priorities include mitigating the effects of radiation, muscle loss and weakened immunity.

Despite these challenges, Wakayama believes his work is essential to long-term space exploration. He noted that understanding how reproduction works in space could help humans settle on other planets and even bring livestock and pets to sustain life.

Possibility of reproduction in space

Wakayama’s IVF project has been accepted by the Japanese space agency and he hopes to launch the necessary device to the ISS within two years. His experiments could reveal whether mammals, including humans, can reproduce and develop normally in space.

“In science fiction movies, people live on other planets and babies are born, but we don’t even know yet if that’s possible,” Wakayama said. His work aims to answer this fundamental question.

“If we can confirm it, that will reassure us. And if that doesn’t work, we need to figure out how to address that challenge.

Wider implications of the research

Humanity has made great strides toward becoming a multi-planetary species. from NASA Artemis The program plans to return astronauts to the Moon in 2026, while SpaceX plans a crewed mission to Mars in the near future. However, these ambitious projects are based on solve critical problemsincluding reproduction.

Wakayama’s research represents a critical step in understanding how life can sustain itself in space. Whether his experiments confirm or challenge the possibility of reproduction, they will shape the future of human space exploration.

As we gaze at the stars, questions about survival and reproduction remind us of the complexity of leaving Earth behind. Whether or not we can thrive in space remains one of humanity’s greatest challenges. scientific frontiers.

The study is published in the journal Scientific advances.

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