Scientists have discovered evidence of water on the Moon, raising hopes that astronauts could use it as a base to conduct exploratory missions.
The discovery was made after 35 samples were collected randomly from the lunar soil, which showed that water was found in tiny multicolor glass beads, as small as a hair.
The research paper, “A solar wind-derived water reservoir on the Moon hosted by impact glass beads,” was published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Although there is believed to be a large frozen water reservoir on the Moon, it is less than what is found on Earth. Scientists hope that these innumerable glass beads could carry large amounts of water. Previous studies did not explain the reserve points and how water is stored on the Moon.
Experts hope that there must be a water storage process on the Moon. The glass beads are formed when meteoroids hit the Moon, turn solid and join the Moon’s soil, absorbing the water like a sponge and initiating a water cycle on the Moon’s soil.
Some of the water also goes to space. Further research is needed to determine whether this extracted water would be drinkable. The discovery of water on the Moon is critical for astronauts as they intend to live on the Moon to study other objects and characteristics of space and celestial bodies.
