Researchers from Sechenov University and the National Research University Southern Russia named after M. I. Platov conducted a study on the chemical composition of soil samples collected from four different regions of the Moon and compared them to the average values of elements in normal Earth soil, as explained by the media department of Sechenov University.
The lunar surface is solid. After analyzing the found samples on the Moon, researchers have identified that the lunar surface is composed of a mixture of dust and rocks.
Moon rocks are formed at high temperatures and are devoid of water. There are three main types of rocks on the Moon: basalt, anorthosites, and quartz rocks. All of them are formed without water, unlike some types of rocks on Earth such as limestone.
“The foundation of lunar soil is regolith (a loose layer covering the solid rock foundation), which contains chemical elements such as chromium, beryllium, nickel, and cobalt that, if exposed for a long time, can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of individuals living on the Moon, causing damage to their respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive systems,” said Dr. Ivan Ivanov from Sechenov University in a statement. He further added that these soil components can cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. This would be a particular point of concern and would need to be addressed if humans have plans to live on the Moon.
The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite and the only satellite owned by Earth, located about 384,403 km away from Earth. The Moon was formed as a result of a collision known as the Giant Impact or the Big Whack. The Moon revolves around the Earth in approximately 29.5 days. The size of the Moon is about 27% of the size of the Earth. The gravity on the Moon is only about 1/6th of Earth’s gravity.
It has been over 50 years since humans first set foot on the Moon. Until today, researchers continue to explore the mysteries of this fifth-largest natural satellite in the Solar System.