Scientists are hoping to build a "Noah's Ark" on the moon, so as to ensure the recreation of civilisation on Earth if ever a global catastrophe takes place.
The main idea is to bury a vault containing details of DNA, crop growing process, and metal smelting under the lunar surface, BBC radio reported. The information will be transmitted from the moon to 4,000 special bunkers on Earth in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish languages.
Scientists believe that the data may be helpful for survivors of a nuclear war or asteroid strike in restarting modern life. They are also planning to store animal embryos and plants in the vault so that species could be restored, if rocket technology survives. The plan was discussed at a conference in Strasbourg last month.
Bernard Foing, chief scientist at the European Space Agency, revealed that scientists were hoping to grow tulips in a special greenhouse on the moon as a first step.
He said that the first flowers could be grown by 2012. "Eventually it will be necessary to have a kind of Noah's Ark there, a diversity of species from the biosphere," he was quoted as saying.
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