“Recent Research Suggests the Moon Could Be More Geologically Active Than Once Thought”

"Recent Research Suggests the Moon Could Be More Geologically Active Than Once Thought"

“Recent Research Suggests the Moon Could Be More Geologically Active Than Once Thought”


**The Moon Is More Alive Than We Believed: New Research Questions Established Views**

For ages, the Moon has been seen as a geologically inactive body—a frigid, lifeless remnant of ancient volcanic eruptions that ended billions of years ago. However, innovative findings published in *The Planetary Science Journal* are disputing this entrenched viewpoint. Researchers now propose that the Moon might still show signs of geological activity, suggesting that it is much more dynamic than the stagnant, unchanging sphere we once thought.

### **An Insight into the Moon’s Obscured Side**

The investigation, spearheaded by experts from the University of Maryland (UMD), concentrates on the far side of the Moon—a section forever shielded from Earth’s perspective. Through high-resolution imagery and data evaluation, the researchers discovered 266 small ridges, termed *mare ridges*, scattered across the lunar landscape. These features are particularly fascinating because they seem to be considerably younger than the Moon’s ancient volcanic plains, known as *lunar maria*.

The lunar maria were created billions of years ago due to asteroid collisions that caused extensive lava outpourings. These dark expanses have traditionally been seen as the Moon’s last notable geological event. However, the newly identified ridges imply that tectonic activities might have continued much longer than previously assumed.

### **A Reset of the Geological Clock**

By examining the ridges and their association with adjacent impact craters, researchers estimate that the latest tectonic activity on the Moon might have happened as recently as 14 million years ago. Although this seems like an extensive period by human standards, it is merely a brief moment in the Moon’s 4.5-billion-year timeline. This revelation contradicts the dominant belief that lunar geological activity ceased roughly 3 billion years ago when the Moon’s molten core cooled and solidified.

The relatively young age of the ridges is particularly noteworthy since they intersect with impact craters that are themselves younger than the lunar maria. This indicates that the Moon’s crust has been shifting and contorting well into its more contemporary timeline.

### **What Keeps the Moon Active?**

The existence of these ridges raises fascinating questions regarding the Moon’s internal mechanisms. One hypothesis is that the Moon continues to cool and contract, a process that generates surface wrinkles akin to those observed on a diminishing apple. This contraction might be driving the creation of the ridges, as the Moon’s crust adapts to the gradual loss of internal heat.

Another possibility is that the Moon’s geological activity is shaped by gravitational interactions with Earth. Tidal forces exerted by our planet might be inducing stress within the Moon’s crust, contributing to the formation of these ridges.

### **Consequences for Future Lunar Missions**

The revelation that the Moon could still be geologically active has significant consequences for upcoming lunar explorations. If the Moon is, in fact, still evolving, it could offer invaluable insights into the processes that sculpt rocky planets and moons across the solar system. This discovery also opens up the potential for locating subsurface sources of heat or volatile compounds, which might be essential for supporting human missions to the Moon.

NASA’s forthcoming Artemis program, which plans to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era, may play a crucial role in examining these inquiries. By utilizing advanced tools and conducting on-site research, future astronauts could assist in determining whether the Moon continues to undergo tectonic transformations—or even unveil new evidence of its vibrant past.

### **A New Era in Lunar Research**

The notion that the Moon is not as lifeless as once perceived serves as a reminder of the vast knowledge still to be gained about our nearest celestial companion. As scientists persist in exploring the Moon’s surface and inner workings, they unveil a far more intricate and dynamic history than previously thought.

This discovery exemplifies the capabilities of modern technology and scientific exploration, which continue to expand the limits of our comprehension. The Moon, it appears, still harbors mysteries to disclose—and its narrative is far from complete.