Scientists want to send endangered animals to the Moon... sort of!

Many experts have spent years trying to work out the best way to help endangered animals and plants.

Now, one group of scientists have come up with an out-of-this-world plan to save them from extinction.

They want to put endangered animals on the Moon.

Researchers think that there are parts on the Moon which are cold enough to safety store frozen cells from threatened species - which isn't possible on Earth.

What do scientists want to do?

Experts say that biodiversity on Earth is increasingly at risk because of factors including natural disasters, climate change and overpopulation.

As a result, they want to keep a record of endangered species, in case they were to disappear on Earth.

A team of American scientists behind the research think that conditions on the Moon are much better than those on Earth for their plans.

They say that a storage facility could be built on the Moon - where temperatures are much colder than on our planet.

It would likely be located at the Moon's north or south pole, where deep craters are permanently in the shadow and temperature are around -200C.

They would then be able to safely store frozen animal cells, in case they were needed in the future.

All living things on our planet are made from cells, including YOU. You have billions of cells in every part of your body.

Almost all cells are so small that you need a microscope to see them.