Tardigrades: We're now polluting the moon with near indestructible little creatures

Yeah, I agree for the most part. I'd just rather do it in a more considered way.

Or maybe it's just because this version of life is tiny and ugly. What if Palestinian scientists terraformed the moon into a Garden of Eden. Outrage?

I think the objection is that the surface and core of the moon has yet to be fully explored. If the goal of lunar geologists is to study the moon to get clues as to the formation of the solar system and possibly the earth, introducing terrestrial life forms is pollution, but not in the sense you and Finn are using. More like this second definition:

"To make less suitable for an activity, especially by the introduction of unwanted factors."

They don't want to study tardigrades, they want to study objects in the solar system before they have been influenced and transformed by earthly life. After the moon has been carefully studied and its lunar geology analyzed, scientists and governments may agree on a plan to
mine or possibly 'terraform' the satellite but for one country to do this on its own runs contrary to the protocols of space exploration.

I think the objection is that the surface and core of the moon has yet to be fully explored. If the goal of lunar geologists is to study the moon to get clues as to the formation of the solar system and possibly the earth, introducing terrestrial life forms is pollution, but not in the sense you and Finn are using. More like this second definition:

"To make less suitable for an activity, especially by the introduction of unwanted factors."

They don't want to study tardigrades, they want to study objects in the solar system before they have been influenced and transformed by earthly life. After the moon has been carefully studied and its lunar geology analyzed, scientists and governments may agree on a plan to mine or possibly 'terraform' the satellite but for one country to do this on its own runs contrary to the protocols of space exploration.

That was my thought - it is only considered polluting because they are not fuzzy and cute like a bunny or puppy.

What if Palestinian scientists terraformed the moon into a Garden of Eden. Outrage?

I think the objection is that the surface and core of the moon has yet to be fully explored. If the goal of lunar geologists is to study the moon to get clues as to the formation of the solar system and possibly the earth, introducing terrestrial life forms is pollution, but not in the sense you and Finn are using. More like this second definition:

"To make less suitable for an activity, especially by the introduction of unwanted factors."

They don't want to study tardigrades, they want to study objects in the solar system before they have been influenced and transformed by earthly life. After the moon has been carefully studied and its lunar geology analyzed, scientists and governments may agree on a plan to mine or possibly 'terraform' the satellite but for one country to do this on its own runs contrary to the protocols of space exploration.

Finn dAbuzz wrote:

What if Palestinian scientists terraformed the moon into a Garden of Eden. Outrage?

If the Palestinians did that, you would be outraged.

Someone wants to study tardigrades or they wouldn't have been sent there.

The political violence of Palestinian organizations runs contrary to the protocols of international law, but that doesn't bother the OP

Whether you want Jews dead or Arabs dead frankly doesn't concern these creatures.

Linkat wrote:

That was my thought - it is only considered polluting because they are not fuzzy and cute like a bunny or puppy.

What are you talking about? I think tardigrades are adorable.