Scientists discover gigantic 'structure' under the surface of the Moon
The Moon has been a subject of awe and fascination for millennia, with its shape-shifting powers and enigmatic dark side. And though it’s the one celestial body on which man has taken (small) steps, we still have big leaps to go in understanding its potential and uncovering its secrets. However, one hidden feature of the Moon has been unearthed by scientists and it’s very, very big, and very, very heavy. Buried beneath its South Pole-Aitken basin – one of the largest preserved craters in the Solar System – is a structure which weighs at least 2.18 billion kilogrammes and measures more than 300km (186 miles) in depth and 2,000km (1,243 miles) in length. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The researchers who made the discovery, all based in the US, posited that the “anomaly” could be made out of metal from the core of an asteroid or oxides from the crystallisation of a magma ocean. "One of the explanations of this extra mass is that the metal from the asteroid that formed this crater is still embedded in the Moon's mantle,” lead author Peter B. James, from Houston’s Baylor University, said in a statement shared with IFLScience. Illustrating just how gigantic this thing is, he went on: "Imagine taking a pile of metal five times larger than the Big Island of Hawaii and burying it underground. That's roughly how much unexpected mass we detected.” The groundbreaking finding was made thanks to NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, which measures changes in the Moon’s gravitational field. Data collected by GRAIL can then be used to study the internal composition of our cratered companion. The South Pole-Aitken Basin has been at the centre of numerous investigations because of just how unique it is. The region offers clues both on the interior composition of our closest satellite and its history, and who knows what other mysteries it holds... Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-29 17:52
Twitch streamers Pokimane, HasanAbi, and Kai Cenat face attacks from view-bots, Nmplol raises concerns
'Whoever is botting these guys, you're a piece of s**t in real life,' EsfandTV said after Nmplol shed light on the situation
2023-06-29 17:50
Who is Colleen Ballinger? YouTuber denies grooming allegations with song, says she's 'not a groomer, just a loser'
Colleen Ballinger faced grooming allegations after screenshots were shared from a group chat in which she sent inappropriate messages to minor fans
2023-06-29 17:49
Will Pokimane help IShowSpeed with Twitch ban removal? Kai Cenat asks streaming queen to 'pull some strings’
As Kai Cenat asks for Pokimane's number, she persuades her to put in a word for IShowSpeed to end their 2-year Twitch ban
2023-06-29 17:48
Elizabeth de Saint-Aignan Joins AVP as a General Partner in Charge of the New AVP Late Growth Fund for North America
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 29, 2023--
2023-06-29 17:25
Uhuru Joins Top International Companies as Members of Future Investment Initiative (“FII”) Institute
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 29, 2023--
2023-06-29 17:22
With Plenty of Clean Energy, Brazil Aims for Green Hydrogen Export Market
The snake and armadillo-filled scrublands of Northeastern Brazil’s Serra da Babilonia, or Hills of Babylon, are as stunning
2023-06-29 17:19
Chinese Chipmaker Asks Suppliers to Buy Back Banned Gear
Global chipmaking gear makers should treat Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. with fairness and buy back equipment which the
2023-06-29 17:15
US mulls new export restriction on computing power in AI chips
By Stephen Nellis and Karen Freifeld U.S. officials are considering tightening an export control rule designed to slow
2023-06-29 16:54
Scientists design new shapeshifting 'morphobot' and it's like a real-life Transformer
Scientists have designed a new robot that people are dubbing a 'transformer' thanks to its ability to roll, fly, crawl, crouch, balance, and tumble its way through any terrain. Its adaptability is similar to that of a number of animals, including seals, meerkats, and chukar birds. The morphobot was created by the Northeastern University in the US, and will impact the future designs of response and rescue robots, as well as space exploration vehicles. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
2023-06-29 16:27
Crypto Goes Mainstream in Germany: 28% of Gen Z Crypto Users Utilize Digital Currencies for Payments
VICTORIA, Seychelles--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 29, 2023--
2023-06-29 16:23
Wind Turbines That Shake and Break Cost Their Maker Billions
Wind turbines make money when they spin. But when they shake, it can cost billions. Siemens Energy AG
2023-06-29 16:22