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The possibility of global or nuclear conflict. An asteroid hurtling toward Earth. Widespread hunger. Deadly diseases. A sudden shift in Earth's axis. Extended worldwide power failures. Severe weather conditions. Devastating floods. Human mistakes. Numerous catastrophic events could trigger Doomsday. However, we are prepared, at least in terms of food supplies. Cultural heritage, essential bacteria, and even cookies are also expected to survive.
Massive storage facilities have been constructed in the Arctic and other remote locations, with plans for an additional underground vault on the moon. No matter what disasters strike on Doomsday, survivors will have access to food, cultural treasures, delicious snacks, and perhaps even pets to care for.
10. Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV), managed by Norway, is situated on the frigid Svalbard archipelago, often referred to as the 'cold coast.' This remote area is scarcely inhabited, with polar bears outnumbering humans. Longyearbyen, the nearest town, has a population of just over 2,000. This region is a 'twilight zone' where the sun remains hidden, and the moon perpetually shines.
A massive, wedge-shaped doorway carved into a mountainside grants access to the Doomsday vault, designed to endure for 10,000 years. The vault's frigid environment ensures it remains frozen for 25 years, even if the refrigeration system fails. Safeguarded within are invaluable treasures: 1.5 billion seeds collected globally over 70 years, ensuring agriculture can be restored in the event of a global catastrophe.
The SGSV serves as a safeguard against extinction, a threat not confined to the future but actively occurring today. Scientist Cary Fowler highlights this with an example: of the 7,100 apple varieties from the 19th century, only 300 survive today, marking an 86% extinction rate in the U.S. Extinction affects all crops, as traditional seed-sharing among families has been replaced by industrial farming. While this boosts food production, it erases unique family varieties forever.
Numerous disasters—natural, technological, or otherwise—can devastate crops, says Fowler. Once lost, a crop's unique disease and pest resistance vanish forever. This is why the SGSV is crucial. Norway funded its $9 million construction, Bill Gates covered seed transportation costs, and nearly every nation contributed seeds. Fowler emphasizes, 'These resources are our last defense against unimaginable starvation.'
9. Chang La Vault
Chang La is an isolated location, three hours from the nearest town, Leh. Perched on a frozen Himalayan peak, it is accessible only via a perilous road reaching elevations of 5,360 meters (17,688 feet). With sub-zero temperatures and minimal humidity, the site is immune to earthquakes and floods. This harsh, high-altitude desert is ideal for its purpose: storing 10,000 seeds and 200 plant species at -18°C, ready to restore crops after a Doomsday event.
The seeds housed in the Chang La Vault (CLV) are genetically engineered to thrive in extreme conditions, such as high altitudes, salty or scarce water, and elevated temperatures. These seeds are resilient to temperature fluctuations, pests, and humidity, ensuring future generations can cultivate diverse crops like apricots, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, radishes, tomatoes, barley, rice, and wheat. Remarkably, these seeds have lifespans ranging from 413 years for onions to an astounding 9,000 years for peas.
India envisions the CLV as a competitor to Norway’s Svalbard Seed Vault and Colorado’s National Center for Genetic Resources, which stores 600,000 seed samples. However, the CLV requires a cooling system to manage temperatures that occasionally rise to -4 degrees. Designed as a backup to Norway’s SGSV, which faced flooding due to melting ice, the CLV aims to mitigate risks posed by climate change to global seed repositories.
8. Underground Lunar Vault
The CLV may not suffice as the sole safeguard for agriculture in a Doomsday scenario, prompting scientists to propose an extraordinary solution: an underground lunar vault. This facility would serve as a 'global insurance policy,' ensuring the survival of essential crops.
However, constructing such an 'ark' hinges on advancements in cryo-robotics technology. Seeds would need to be stored at -292°F, and stem cells at -320°F, temperatures that could compromise the vault’s metal components. Additional challenges include managing the effects of lunar gravity on seed preservation and establishing reliable communication between Earth and the moon.
Scientists have identified a potential location for the solar-powered lunar vault: a network of 200 underground lava tubes. These tubes would shield the frozen seeds from solar radiation, temperature fluctuations, and micrometeorites. Elevator shafts would link the moon’s surface, equipped with a photovoltaic system, a Ka-Band antenna for communication, and an air-locked entrance, to the underground tubes. Inside, preservation modules and a laboratory would operate. To realize this vision, scientists estimate 250 rocket launches would be needed to transport 50 seed samples from each of the 6.7 million species to the moon.
7. U.S. National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation
Located at Colorado State University, the U.S. National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) safeguards 600,000 seed packets. Stored at temperatures similar to a home freezer, the seeds remain viable for extended periods. Dave Dierig, the Center’s research leader, notes that each packet is bar-coded, and a secure database is required to identify the seeds. The facility is monitored by closed-circuit cameras, ensuring security. Other seed vaults and private companies like Dupont and Monsanto also store their seeds here.
Lisa Hill, a scientist in the Center’s Biophysics Lab, describes her daily work, which includes examining plant embryos under a microscope and studying how plant species survive in storage and can be revived. Her research focuses on species longevity, optimal storage methods, and seed development. The Center aims to be fully prepared in the event of a Doomsday scenario.
6. Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP) aims to protect seeds from plants at risk of extinction and those likely to be valuable in the future. With 40% of the world’s plant species facing extinction, the MSBP collaborates with 100 countries and territories to preserve 15.6% of the planet’s wild plant species. These plants are threatened by land use changes and climate shifts. The MSBP’s initiatives include conserving trees, wild plants, and developing climate-resilient crops, with projects spanning Africa, North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the British Virgin Islands.
Since its inception in 2000, the MSBP has secured 2.4 billion seeds from across the globe, many of which are rare and endangered. For example, Yadkin River goldenrod thrives only along a 2.5-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in North Carolina. Peters Mountain mallow is confined to a single mountain on the Virginia-West Virginia border, while the Venus flytrap is native almost exclusively to the Carolinas, with 99% found in North Carolina.
5. SVF Foundation
The SVF Foundation focuses on preserving animal species by freezing sperm and embryos. Its cryopreservation program holds 45,000 samples from 20 rare breeds of cattle, sheep, and goats, stored at -312°F in liquid nitrogen. Founded by Dorrance ('Dodo') Hill Hamilton, a major Campbell Soup Company shareholder, the non-profit ensures the survival of these rare breeds.
Chip, a Tennessee fainting goat, serves as the organization’s mascot and a testament to the success of its preservation efforts. As a six-day-old embryo, Chip was frozen for months before being implanted into a surrogate Nubian doe and born in 2004. This process is repeated for new breeds, with embryos thawed and transplanted to ensure their viability.
While Chip will spend his life at the Foundation’s Newport, Rhode Island facility, not all animals born from the transplantation process may share his fate. The frozen semen and embryos are preserved as a safeguard against disasters. Dr. George Saperstein, the Foundation’s chief scientific advisor, explains that in the event of a catastrophe, these embryos could be used to restore populations within a single generation.
4. Frozen Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is actively contributing to animal conservation. Starting in 1972 with rare animal hides, the zoo now leverages stem cell technology to combat extinction. A test tube stored at -173°C (-280°F) in liquid nitrogen holds a sample from a northern white rhino, marking a potential breakthrough in species preservation.
The sample consists of the rhino’s skin cells, which can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells. These cells can generate sperm and egg cells, enabling the creation of embryos through in vitro fertilization. This technology could revive nearly extinct species, blurring the line between science fiction and reality, as scientists work to reverse extinction.
Although dinosaurs may remain extinct, the Zoo’s collection includes epidermal cells from 8,400 species, such as Gobi bears, endangered cattle, mountain gorillas, pandas, a California grey whale, and condors, offering hope for their survival.
3. Global Oreo Vault
While food, art, literature, religious teachings, and beneficial microbes are essential, what about dessert? Even—or especially—after a global catastrophe, people will crave sweet indulgences.
Rest assured, Oreo has prepared for such an event. The Global Oreo Vault’s entrance mimics the wedge-shaped design of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. To ensure the cookies’ safety, they are encased in mylar, a material resistant to extreme temperatures (-80°F to 300°F) and impervious to moisture, air, and chemical reactions, according to an Oreo spokesperson.
Architect Markus Johansdotter was tasked with designing the vault, which had to be completed within 30 days and function similarly to the SGSV. Johansdotter described the project as both significant and daunting, emphasizing the weight of safeguarding Oreos for future generations.
In October 2020, Johansdotter received news that the vault was successfully completed. Celebrating with his team in front of the vault, bundled in thick coats and hats, they proudly held packages of Oreos. Their hard work ensured that the cookie recipe and a stockpile of Oreos would survive any apocalyptic event.
While NASA deemed the asteroid’s near-Earth passage non-threatening, Oreo wasn’t taking any risks. The company is now prepared for future disasters, whether a larger asteroid or another catastrophe, with cookies securely stored at the remote coordinates 78° 08’ 58.1” N, 16° 01’ 59.7” E.
2. Global Microbiota Vault
Not all microbes are harmful; many are essential for maintaining health. Human microbiota, a vast community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, plays a crucial role in digestion and immune support. However, over the past 50-70 years, microbial diversity has significantly declined, posing a current threat. Rutgers University researchers advocate for a 'last-resort vault' to preserve these beneficial microbes, as their loss may contribute to rising rates of asthma, allergies, diabetes, and autism.
Inspired by the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the proposed Global Microbiota Vault (GMV) would be situated in a politically neutral location to encourage global contributions. While costly to build and maintain, the GMV is seen as vital for safeguarding human health in a post-Doomsday world.
1. Arctic World Archive
The Arctic World Archive (AWA) focuses on safeguarding humanity’s cultural heritage rather than preserving plants or animals. It currently stores 21 terabytes of open-source code, encompassing the world’s most treasured art, literature, and religious works. Located in a 300-meter-deep decommissioned coal mine in the northernmost settlement on Earth, the AWA collaborates with GitHub, the largest global software repository.
Established in 2017 by Piql, a Norwegian data-storage company, the AWA is situated on Spitsbergen Island, near the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Initially receiving contributions from Mexico and Brazil, the archive now holds cultural treasures from 17 nations, including Vatican Library manuscripts, works by Rembrandt and Munch, music collections, scientific discoveries, political histories, and sports memorabilia.
The AWA stores its data on 186 reels of high-resolution Piql film, designed for durability and high-density digital storage. The process involves converting files into QR codes, which are then written onto film frames and developed. Each reel begins with instructions in five languages, explaining how to decode the QR codes using basic tools like a computer, camera, and light source. The film is built to last 500 years, ensuring future generations can access cultural knowledge after a global catastrophe.
