Rights‑of‑Nature for Alien Worlds

A trio of UK scholars proposes granting legal standing to extraterrestrial life and entire off‑Earth ecosystems, with court‑appointed guardians empowered to represent their interests. Modeled on terrestrial 'rights of nature' laws, the framework would apply before discovery and as space commercialization accelerates. — Preemptive rights and guardianship would reshape space treaties, mission rules, and corporate behavior if/when life is found or ecosystems are impacted.