Why the Moon Is Rusting: NASA’s Unbelievable Discovery
Moon Rust: Why Is Our Airless Moon Rusting? The Strange Science Explained | Science by Rao Moon Rust: Why Is Our Airless Moon Rusting? The Strange Science Explained The discovery of rust on the Moon challenges long-held scientific assumptions. Rust on the Moon? It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie gone wrong. After all, rust, or iron oxide, famously requires two key ingredients: **oxygen and water**. Our Moon, a barren, airless celestial body bombarded by harsh solar winds, is thought to lack both of these in significant amounts. Yet, in a revelation that sent ripples through the planetary science community in 2020, scientists using data from India’s pioneering Chandrayaan-1 mission made a shocking discovery: unmistakable traces of **hematite** (Fe₂O₃), a form of iron oxide, on the lunar surface. This perplexing finding isn't just a quirky anomaly; it profoundly challenges what we thought we ...