Latest news with #lunarbeads
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Investigating Small Orange Objects Coating Surface of the Moon
Over half a century ago, Apollo astronauts encountered something surprising littering the desolate lunar surface: a vast number of tiny orange beads. As Universe Today reports, scientists have long proposed that these beads, each smaller than a grain of sand, date back to over three billion years ago, when volcanic eruptions on the now-inert natural satellite were still commonplace. The theory goes that material launched up by lunar volcanoes would solidify into tiny drops in the freezing vacuum of space, surviving without any erosion or weather for billions of years. Decades later, researchers have now used high-tech microscopic techniques to get a much more detailed look at these tiny orange beads. Using electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and a host of other techniques, the team found that each glass bead tells a different story, fleshing out a geologically active history rife with violent volcano explosions. "We've had these samples for 50 years, but we now have the technology to fully understand them," said Ryan Ogliore, Washington University professor of physics and coauthor of a paper set to be published in the journal Icarus, in a press release. "Many of these instruments would have been unimaginable when the beads were first collected." Ogliore also found that some of the beads are reminiscent of natural processes that take place on Earth. "The very existence of these beads tells us the Moon had explosive eruptions, something like the fire fountains you can see in Hawaii today," Ogliore said. However, their shape, color, and chemical composition are unsurprisingly completely different thanks to their extraterrestrial origin. The team had to go to great lengths to make these measurements. Since the tiny Apollo samples can easily react with oxygen and other elements in Earth's atmosphere, the researchers had to protect them from air exposure at every step. But thanks to their detailed analysis, the history of our planet's satellite is slowly coming into focus. The research tells a complex story of the Moon's evolution, "like reading the journal of an ancient lunar volcanologist," according to Ogliore. More on the Moon: Scientists Say There's Over a Trillion Dollars of Platinum Waiting to Be Extracted From the Moon's Craters
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Apollo astronauts discovered the moon is covered in tiny orange glass beads. Now we finally know why.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When Apollo astronauts first set foot on the lunar surface, they expected to find grey rocks and dust. What they didn't anticipate was discovering something that looked almost magical: tiny, brilliant orange glass beads scattered across the Moon's landscape like microscopic gems. These beads, each smaller than a grain of sand, are actually ancient time capsules from when the Moon was volcanically active billions of years ago. The beads formed some 3.3 to 3.6 billion years ago during volcanic eruptions on the surface of the then, young satellite. The story of these glass beads begins with explosive volcanic activity that would have been spectacular to witness. The beads formed when lunar volcanoes shot material from the interior to the surface, where each drop of lava solidified instantly in the cold vacuum that surrounds the moon. Picture volcanic eruptions similar to Hawaii's famous lava fountains, but happening in the airless environment of space. Without an atmosphere to slow them down or weather to erode them, these tiny glass spheres have remained pristine for over three billion years. For fifty years, these samples sat in laboratories waiting for technology to catch up with scientific curiosity. "They're some of the most amazing extraterrestrial samples we have, the beads are tiny, pristine capsules of the lunar interior" Ryan Ogliore, an associate professor of physics at Washington University in St. Louis. Now, researchers have finally been able to peer inside the beads using advanced microscopic techniques that didn't exist during the Apollo era. The research team used multiple cutting edge tools including high energy ion beams and electron microscopy to analyse the beads without damaging them. They had to be extremely careful to protect the samples from Earth's atmosphere, which could alter the ancient minerals on their surfaces. What makes these beads so scientifically valuable is that they come in different colours and compositions, telling different chapters of the Moon's volcanic story. Some beads are shiny orange, others are glossy black, and each variety reveals information about different types of eruptions that occurred over millions of years. The minerals and isotopic composition of the bead surfaces serve as probes into the different pressure, temperature and chemical environment of lunar eruptions 3.5 billion years ago. Scientists discovered that the style of volcanic activity changed over time, providing insights into how the Moon's interior evolved. RELATED STORIES —Is the moon still geologically active? Evidence says it's possible —China signs deal with Russia to build a power plant on the moon — potentially leaving the US in the dust —China is sharing priceless moon samples with international partners, but NASA can't be a part of it As Ogliore poetically described it, analyzing these beads is "like reading the journal of an ancient lunar volcanologist." Each tiny sphere contains clues about conditions deep inside the Moon during an era when our solar system was still young and dynamic. These glass beads remind us that the Moon wasn't always the quiet, inactive world we see today. Billions of years ago, it was a geologically active place with explosive volcanoes creating these beautiful, microscopic windows into lunar history that continue to reveal their secrets to modern science. The original version of this article was published on Universe Today.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Tiny glass beads could reveal the Moon's secret history
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. You might see the Moon as a grey, lifeless orb that orbits our planet each day. However, many researchers believe that the Moon is more alive than we believe. Further, they believe that the Moon's secret history could help us learn more about how it formed billions of years ago. While it might look grey from afar, the Moon is actually home to thousands (maybe even millions) of tiny glass beads. These beads, astronomers say, could actually help us learn more about our satellite's past, as they likely formed during a period of volcanic activity on the Moon. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 Many believe that the Moon's secret history is tied to that volcanic activity and that these beads, which the Apollo astronauts brought back when they returned home, formed between 3.3 and 3.6 billion years ago. Now, researchers are using modern techniques to look deeper into the beads. The researchers' findings suggest they have been able to look inside the beads and uncover more information about the microscopic minerals inside the lunar beads. Through this 'unprecedented view,' they were able to look back into the Moon's past. Each bead, the researchers note, tells its own version of that story. Some of the beads are more orange in color, while others have a glossy black appearance. The fact that these beads even exist tells us more about the Moon's secret history of volcanic eruption, which we haven't been able to study in-depth. Perhaps as we work to colonize other planets, and one day set up a Moon colony, we can figure out what caused these eruptions to eventually cease, as astronomers have long believed the Moon was 'dead' because of the lack of any modern eruptions. Plus, the beads have a shape and chemical composition never before seen here on Earth. By analyzing them, the researchers know a bit more about our Moon than before. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
