The moon is shrinking... More than a thousand new cracks raise concerns among scientists

 

The moon

The moon is shrinking... More than a thousand new cracks raise concerns among scientists

In a seemingly unchanging phenomenon, the moon continues its quiet transformation, unseen by human eyes. A recent scientific study has revealed that Earth's neighbor is still gradually shrinking, leaving behind an ever-expanding network of cracks that could have significant implications for future exploration plans.

Scientists from the National Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies have discovered more than a thousand previously unknown cracks on the surface of the moon, reinforcing evidence that the moon continues to shrink and reshape its geological structure.

Researchers believe this phenomenon is caused by the cooling of the moon's interior over time, which leads to its gradual shrinkage and the contraction of its crust, according to a report published by the British Daily Mail.

Distinctive geological formations

Since 2010, scientists have observed distinctive geological formations known as "lobular slopes" in the lunar highlands, which form when the crust is compressed and rock masses are pushed over each other along faults, creating raised ridges.

But what is new in this study is the detection of similar cracks in the “lunar maria,” which are the vast dark plains on the surface of the moon, where researchers have named these formations “small sea ridges” (SMRs).

The study's lead researcher, Cole Naipafer, said that upcoming lunar exploration programs, such as the "Artemis" program, will provide crucial information for understanding the tectonic and seismic activity of the moon, which directly impacts the safety of future missions.

He added that documenting this widespread cracking in the lunar seas gives scientists a more comprehensive view of recent tectonic activity on the moon, and helps in understanding its thermal and seismic history and the likelihood of future "lunar earthquakes".

More than a thousand new cracks

The team was able to identify 1,114 new small ridges, bringing the total number discovered to 2,634. The average age of these formations is estimated at about 124 million years, while the lobe slopes date back to about 105 million years, making them among the newest geological features on the surface of the moon.

Researcher Tom Waters, who first discovered these cracks in 2010, noted that the new findings complete the global picture of a dynamic moon that is still changing.
Despite the scientific importance of the discovery, researchers warn that the spread of these edges could pose a risk to the infrastructure of any long-term human presence on the moon, given the possibility of shallow moonquakes that could affect facilities and equipment.

These warnings are particularly important given NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon by 2028 as part of the "Artemis 3" mission, making understanding lunar seismic activity as much a safety issue as a scientific one.