Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»News»NASA Wants Their Moon Dust, Cockroaches Back
    News

    NASA Wants Their Moon Dust, Cockroaches Back

    Amy DavisBy Amy DavisJune 27, 20223 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    An auction for moon dust-fed cockroach carcasses has been blocked by NASA, who claim the items are their property. This story really starts back in 1969, when astronauts brought back moon dust from the Apollo 11 mission. That lunar soil was fed to insects, fish, and other small creatures to study the effects. The cockroaches from this experiment ended up at the University of Minnesota, where entomologist Marion Brooks dissected and studied them.

    “I found no evidence of infectious agents,” Brooks told the Minneapolis Tribune in an interview from October of 1969. She saw no evidence that the moon material was toxic, or that it caused any other negative effects on the insects. According to NASA, the moon rock and cockroaches were supposed to be returned.

    “All Apollo samples, as stipulated in this collection of items, belong to NASA and no person, university, or other entity has ever been given permission to keep them after analysis, destruction, or other use for any purpose, especially for sale or individual display,” NASA said in a letter on June 15th.

    cockroaches
    Photo by Matt Lemmon, Flickr

    But it seems Brooks kept these items, and displayed them in her home. She passed away in 2007. 3 years later, her daughter sold the collection. In May of 2022, the unique set went up for sale again via RR Auctions. 

    “Taken from the bellies of Blattella germanica individuals, this material has been transformed from moon dust to cockroach chyme — a one-of-a-kind rarity in the space marketplace,” the auction reads. It contains 66 glass slides, a vial of 40 milligrams of moon dust, and three cockroach carcasses.  Its estimated value is about $400,000+. 

    Photo by Catherine Singleton, Flickr [https://www.flickr.com/photos/s1ng0/6303898890]

    On June 15th, NASA requested the auction be halted. “We are requesting that you no longer facilitate the sale of any and all items containing the Apollo 11 Lunar Soil Experiment (the cockroaches, slides, and post-destructive testing specimen) by immediately stopping the bidding process.”

    In another letter dated the 22nd, NASA’s lawyer asked the auction house to work with the current owner and return the items to the federal government. “NASA has a track record of pursuing items related to the early space programs,” RR Auction’s attorney Mark Zaid said. “We have worked with NASA before, and have always cooperated with the U.S. government when they lay claims to items,” he continued. “At the end of the day, we want to act appropriately and lawfully.”

    As of June 23rd, the action had been shut down. 

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleSpoiler Car-Makes Driving Easier and Safer
    Next Article Sky Light Projector Providing A Star Light Theme Indoor
    Amy Davis

    Hi, I’m Amy. I like long walks in the graveyard, horror movies, comic books, and bringing you the latest in nerd-centric news.

    Related Posts

    President Trump Will “Look” at Deporting Elon Musk

    July 2, 2025

    Revitalize Your Mind and Body: How New Image Wellness Transforms Mental Well-being

    July 2, 2025

    Netflix to Stream NASA Launches, Missions, and More

    June 30, 2025

    Is the BYDFi App Worth Downloading? A Practical User Review

    June 30, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025

    “F1: The Movie” Thrilling Cars, Crash and Burn Story [Review]

    June 28, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    Neil Druckmann Leaves HBO’s “Last of Us” Ahead of Season 3

    July 2, 2025

    President Trump Will “Look” at Deporting Elon Musk

    July 2, 2025
    game in Python

    Can you create a game in Python? A guide to game programming in Python

    July 2, 2025
    SMM Panels

    Running Smart Ad Campaigns on a Budget? Here’s How SMM Panels Make It Possible

    July 2, 2025

    President Trump Will “Look” at Deporting Elon Musk

    July 2, 2025

    Revitalize Your Mind and Body: How New Image Wellness Transforms Mental Well-being

    July 2, 2025

    Netflix to Stream NASA Launches, Missions, and More

    June 30, 2025

    Is the BYDFi App Worth Downloading? A Practical User Review

    June 30, 2025

    Marvel Studios Reveals BTS Look at “The Fantastic Four”

    July 2, 2025

    David Dastmalchian to Play M. Bison in “Street Fighter”

    July 1, 2025

    Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” Gets First Trailer

    July 1, 2025

    6-Film “Karate Kid” 4K Collector’s Set Available for Pre-Order

    June 30, 2025

    Neil Druckmann Leaves HBO’s “Last of Us” Ahead of Season 3

    July 2, 2025

    First Look at Chatsubo Bar from Apple TV+’s “Neuromancer” Series

    July 1, 2025
    “The Tiny Chef Show”

    “Tiny Chef Show” Raises $80k After Nickelodeon Cancelation

    June 28, 2025

    Possible “Very Young Frankenstein” Series in the Works at FX

    June 25, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025

    “F1: The Movie” Thrilling Cars, Crash and Burn Story [Review]

    June 28, 2025

    “28 Years Later” We Live, We Die, Life Goes On [Review]

    June 21, 2025

    Official My Little Pony Coffee UNICORN POWERS Will Have You Feeling Magical!

    June 16, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.