🚀 Ever wondered why the moon’s far side dust is so clingy? Chinese scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences just cracked the case using samples from the Chang’e-6 mission! 🌙🔬
Back in 2024, Chang’e-6 made history by bringing 1,935 grams of lunar soil from the South Pole-Aitken Basin—the moon’s biggest and oldest crater—back to Earth. Unlike the sandy soil from the near side, this dust behaved more like flour, sticking together in your palm. 🍞➡️🌑
To get to the bottom of this, researchers ran funnel tests and drum tests to measure the soil’s angle of repose. This angle tells scientists how easily particles flow—like determining if they’re running downhill or holding hands!
They found the far side soil had a much higher angle of repose than its near side cousins, making it act like a cohesive terrestrial soil. Why? Its particles are finer, angular, and rough, so forces like static electricity really pack them together. ⚡️✋
It turns out the far side faces a harsher space environment. With no protection from Earth’s magnetic field, it gets bombarded by meteoroids and charged particles that break down and melt rock into tiny, jagged grains. Over billions of years, this extreme “space weather” created that signature sticky dust. 🌌💥
These findings aren’t just cool science—they’re crucial for future exploration. Understanding how this soil moves and clumps will help teams design safe landers and even plan out lunar bases on the far side. The moon’s secrets keep unfolding, and we’re here for every epic discovery! 🌕🏗️
Stay curious! ✨
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists decipher mystery of sticky soil on moon's far side
cgtn.com
