Scientists Discover Potential Human Habitat in Moon Cave

[Social Media]

 

Researchers have discovered a cave on the Moon that could serve as a future home for humans. This cave, which is at least 100 meters deep, offers a promising location for establishing a permanent human base on the lunar surface. The discovery comes amid a growing international effort to establish a human presence on the Moon, driven by the necessity to protect astronauts from the harsh conditions such as radiation, extreme temperatures, and space weather.

 

Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut to travel to space, commented on the discovery, stating that the newly-found cave appeared to be an ideal location for a base. She suggested that humans could potentially be living in these lunar pits within the next 20 to 30 years. However, she noted the depth of the cave could present challenges, requiring astronauts to use abseiling techniques or advanced technologies like jet packs or lifts to access it.

 

The cave was identified by Lorenzo Bruzzone and Leonardo Carrer from the University of Trento in Italy, who utilized radar to penetrate the opening of a pit located on the Mare Tranquillitatis. This rocky plain, visible from Earth, is also historically significant as the landing site of Apollo 11 in 1969. The cave features a skylight on the Moon’s surface that leads to vertical and overhanging walls and a sloping floor that might extend further underground. The formation of this cave dates back millions or even billions of years, created by lava flows that tunneled through the rock.

 

 

Professor Carrer explained that the closest Earth equivalent to this lunar cave would be the volcanic caves found in Lanzarote, Spain. The researchers visited these terrestrial caves as part of their study to gain insights into similar formations. "It’s really exciting. When you make these discoveries and you look at these images, you realize you’re the first person in the history of humanity to see it," Prof Carrer remarked.

 

Upon understanding the significant size of the cave, Bruzzone and Carrer recognized its potential as a location for a lunar base. "After all, life on Earth began in caves, so it makes sense that humans could live inside them on the Moon," Prof Carrer added.

 

While the cave has yet to be fully explored, researchers are optimistic that ground-penetrating radar, cameras, or robots could be utilized to create a comprehensive map of its interior. The existence of lunar caves was first theorized around 50 years ago. In 2010, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of pits that scientists believed could be cave entrances. However, the depth and stability of these caves remained uncertain until the recent findings by Bruzzone and Carrer.

 

Francesco Sauro, Coordinator of the Topical Team Planetary Caves of the European Space Agency, emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating, "We have very good images of the surface—up to 25cm of resolution—we can see the Apollo landing sites—but we know nothing about what lies below the surface. There are huge opportunities for discovery." Sauro also noted that this research could pave the way for exploring caves on Mars. Such exploration could be crucial in the search for evidence of life on the Red Planet, as any potential life would likely have existed inside caves protected from the planet's harsh surface conditions.

 

Beyond its potential for human habitation, the Moon cave holds significant scientific value. The rocks within the cave, shielded from space weather, can provide an extensive geological record dating back billions of years. This could offer valuable insights into the history of the Moon and our solar system. The findings of this groundbreaking research have been published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy, marking a significant step forward in our understanding of the Moon's subterranean landscape and its potential for future human exploration and settlement.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-07-17

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

and who is going to spend the trillions of $ to build that shelter? Is there oil on the moon?

 

I can understand a temporary base to do a bit of exploration, but what possible benefit would a permanent base be? It would require trillions of $ just in logistic support flights. Is it going to be the survival shelter for the world's richest to wait for Elon to build the new Eden on Mars post the destruction of Earth as a habitat for humans?

[rocketboy2]

Benn inhabited for years.

 

Edited July 17 by rocketboy2

[Thailand]

Still not available on ABNB!

[LukKrueng]

So in the future we go back to live in caves, just like we did in the past?

[thaibeachlovers]

14 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

So in the future we go back to live in caves, just like we did in the past?

Yeah, we'll end up where we started.

[impulse]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and who is going to spend the trillions of $ to build that shelter? Is there oil on the moon?

 

Fighting over oil is sooo yesterday.  Lunar wars will be over 3He,or He3, or however you write Helium 3.

 

https://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/what-is-helium-3.html

Edited July 17 by impulse

[Purdey]

Cheaper to send robots with AI. Tech has advanced so much that sending people into space is an unnecessary risk.

Anyway, what human wants to live on the moon - the cheese is green!

[CanadaSam]

We're stuck on this decaying rock mainly due to the exorbitant cost of getting out into space, then once there, there aren't any materials in space to make any type of ship to get us further out into the universe.

 

The moon is abundant with raw materials to build intersteller ships. 

 

It is simply going to be a base to jump off into the universe, one day.

 

Yes, robots can transfer the cave into a liveable habitat, and also get started on producing oxygen and various other materials that people can use to survive.

[impulse]

24 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

Yes, robots can transfer the cave into a liveable habitat, and also get started on producing oxygen and various other materials that people can use to survive.

 

The problem with robots are (or maybe were) pre-industrial conventions that require the presence of a warm body to stake a legal claim.  If they find anything worthwhile, they'll be swamped with competing claims, resulting in robot wars.

 

 

[Bday Prang]

Why does it have to be in a cave? its not like shelter from the rain is an issue, In fact the total lack of water should be enough to put anybody off wanting to live there.   According to many of the plethora of begging stories from charities that Tv viewers  to in the UK are subjected to  nowadays, people tend to start moaning and asking for international donations when their  water supply is more than a few 100 meters  away from their house,

[novacova]

Hadn’t the Chinese claimed that the moon belonged to them?

[Bday Prang]

2 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

We're stuck on this decaying rock mainly due to the exorbitant cost of getting out into space, then once there, there aren't any materials in space to make any type of ship to get us further out into the universe.

 

The moon is abundant with raw materials to build intersteller ships. 

 

It is simply going to be a base to jump off into the universe, one day.

 

Yes, robots can transfer the cave into a liveable habitat, and also get started on producing oxygen and various other materials that people can use to survive.

I reckon you been reading too many science fiction books,  What raw materials will these "interstellar ships" be made out of?  moondust? Why would we need a base on the moon to jump off?  If these moondust space ships were capable of intergalactic travel the short distance from here to the moon would be insignificant.

Anyway once they are ready to get further out into the universe, which way do you think they should head, you know , to save wasting any time, considering the reputed infinite size of the universe and the fact that something like 99.99% of it consists of absolutely nothing a sense of direction would be a great help and indeed an idea of what one was hoping to find.

 I have no idea what you class , alongside water,  as  the other materials necessary for survival, as you don't specify, but I imagine it would be quite an extensive list, how many robots were you thinking of ? 

And all this achieved whilst maintaining the strict adherence to the "net carbon zero" initiatives that are designed to stifle our advancement and will soon have us all eating Quorn   We are going nowhere pal 

[Bday Prang]

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Fighting over oil is sooo yesterday.  Lunar wars will be over 3He,or He3, or however you write Helium 3.

 

https://www.edinformatics.com/math_science/what-is-helium-3.html

I'm more inclined to agree what I believe was something Einstein once said.  Words to the effect  that  the next world war, regardless of what we are fighting over,  will be fought using  the most hi-tec sophisticated and destructive  weapons the human race has been able to develop. However subsequent conflicts will be fought on a much smaller scale by men dressed in animal skins throwing rocks and brandishing sticks

     We won't get any further than the moon , some nutter will have wiped us out with a nuke before any further significant progress is made, either that or another virus/vaccine combo will be the end of us .  Forget helium the next wars could well be over toilet paper and pasta again 

[Hummin]

27 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

I reckon you been reading too many science fiction books,  What raw materials will these "interstellar ships" be made out of?  moondust? Why would we need a base on the moon to jump off?  If these moondust space ships were capable of intergalactic travel the short distance from here to the moon would be insignificant.

Anyway once they are ready to get further out into the universe, which way do you think they should head, you know , to save wasting any time, considering the reputed infinite size of the universe and the fact that something like 99.99% of it consists of absolutely nothing a sense of direction would be a great help and indeed an idea of what one was hoping to find.

 I have no idea what you class , alongside water,  as  the other materials necessary for survival, as you don't specify, but I imagine it would be quite an extensive list, how many robots were you thinking of ? 

And all this achieved whilst maintaining the strict adherence to the "net carbon zero" initiatives that are designed to stifle our advancement and will soon have us all eating Quorn   We are going nowhere pal 

Imaging Columbus explaining his idea to the kings and rulers back then why they should sponsor him. How little did they know 

[Hummin]

51 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Why does it have to be in a cave? its not like shelter from the rain is an issue, In fact the total lack of water should be enough to put anybody off wanting to live there.   According to many of the plethora of begging stories from charities that Tv viewers  to in the UK are subjected to  nowadays, people tend to start moaning and asking for international donations when their  water supply is more than a few 100 meters  away from their house,

Protection from radiation and high temperature differences 

[Bday Prang]

Just now, Hummin said:

Protection from radiation and high temperature differences 

Ah ok , hundreds of meters of solid rock would no doubt offer protection from radiation and temperature,   As indeed presumably does the relatively thin shell of the moondust space ship and of course the even scantier lightweight spacesuit that they wear,    So why not just build a mud hut or put a tent up   You sci fi geeks haven't got a clue

[Bday Prang]

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Imaging Columbus explaining his idea to the kings and rulers back then why they should sponsor him. How little did they know 

People were different in those days the pathetic health and safety gestapo had not yet managed to kill the human spirit of adventure, taking risks was perfectly acceptable, and every loss of life was not considered a tragedy.

 Its not kings you need to convince these days its insurance companies that decide what is allowed to happen

[Hummin]

10 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Ah ok , hundreds of meters of solid rock would no doubt offer protection from radiation and temperature,   As indeed presumably does the relatively thin shell of the moondust space ship and of course the even scantier lightweight spacesuit that they wear,    So why not just build a mud hut or put a tent up   You sci fi geeks haven't got a clue

you asked, I answered what scienticst have said for decades. Please go ahead and fint your explanition thats suits you. 

Edited July 17 by Hummin

[Luuk Chaai]

9 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

We're stuck on this decaying rock mainly due to the exorbitant cost of getting out into space, then once there, there aren't any materials in space to make any type of ship to get us further out into the universe.

 

The moon is abundant with raw materials to build intersteller ships. 

 

It is simply going to be a base to jump off into the universe, one day.

 

Yes, robots can transfer the cave into a liveable habitat, and also get started on producing oxygen and various other materials that people can use to survive.

 

I can see it now

[john donson]

wasted money, for face ?  that and trillions that went into nukes...

 

usa could have had affordable health care for that nonsense

 

the military is in power since ww2, presidents   red or blue, all same

 

forever wars are profitable... look at the unusual wealth by politicians with inside trading

 

buying stocks before making public they will throw hundreds of billions of old useless crap to ukraine...  the money does not go to ukraine, rather the industries that can dump old stock at new prices or better...

 

 

[billd766]

On 7/17/2024 at 5:46 PM, Purdey said:

Cheaper to send robots with AI. Tech has advanced so much that sending people into space is an unnecessary risk.

Anyway, what human wants to live on the moon - the cheese is green!

Mousetrap cheese, especially for Wallace and Gromit.