Should the Tardigrades that landed on The Moon be considered aliens, or Earthlings? (Or Moon-lings?!??)

[White KB]

So recently an Israeli spacecraft crash-landed on The Moon. This spacecraft was carrying tardigrades (more commonly referred to as "water bears") which are tiny creatures that can survive in extremely harsh climates, including, but not limited to:

• Deep underseas
• In/on other organisms
• On top of mountains
• without water or food for almost 100 years
• Gamma Ray exposure for extended periods of time, and even
• the vacuum of space

So, The Moon would be perfect for them. Since they are spread all over the surface, and they at least stand a chance against the harsh climates on The Moon, should they be called Earthlings (they were born here, after all), aliens (They're in space. Duh!), or Moon-lings?!? [(I'm still working on the name) but they technically do live there]?
Leave a comment or leave a vote below.

 

[Chris Choi]

What a ridiculous question. Was Neil armstrong an alien the moment he set foot on the Moon? No, that's a completely specious concept. Tardigrades have the exact same common ancestor as us if you go back far enough, probably before the Cambrian explosion. They have DNA composed of nucleic acids on a sugar-phosphate backbone, exactly like us. they are in no way aliens. If they were to exist on the moon for many generations, perhaps in an artifical colonies, perhaps then they would be considered residents of the Moon. maybe even citizens of the moon. But "moonlings"? No, they are still genetically and originally Earthlings, as they were "of the Earth" like the rest of us. Panspermia complications aside, the answer to the question is obvious in my book.

 

[ProStar]

What a ridiculous question. Was Neil armstrong an alien the moment he set foot on the Moon? No, that's a completely specious concept. Tardigrades have the exact same common ancestor as us if you go back far enough, probably before the Cambrian explosion. They have DNA composed of nucleic acids on a sugar-phosphate backbone, exactly like us. they are in no way aliens. If they were to exist on the moon for many generations, perhaps in an artifical colonies, perhaps then they would be considered residents of the Moon. maybe even citizens of the moon. But "moonlings"? No, they are still genetically and originally Earthlings, as they were "of the Earth" like the rest of us. Panspermia complications aside, the answer to the question is obvious in my book.

Genuinely how did you find this thread


But yes, I agree it’d be outright wrong to classify them as extraterrestrials.