Chinese Lander Instrument Detects Negative Ions on Far Side of Moon (futurism.com)

submitted 5 months ago by schizoidman@lemmy.ml to c/space@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/16605534

Chinese Lander Instrument Detects Negative Ions on Far Side of Moon

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[-] machinin@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

So what is the significance of this?

[-] late_night@sopuli.xyz 19 points 5 months ago

Here is what the article says:

These ions are created when charged particles from the Sun pelt the lunar surface, causing particles there to react and become negatively charged. Here on Earth, the planet's magnetic field stops these particles from ever reaching the surface.

But since the Moon doesn't have a magnetic field, its surface is extremely vulnerable to these charged particles. Unlike positively charged particles, however, they never make it back into orbit, forcing scientists to study them on the surface instead.

[-] machinin@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago

Yeah, I get that, but why negative ions? Their research seems important, I just don't understand the significant of the ions.

[-] Daxtron2@startrek.website 9 points 5 months ago

Important to know if we ever want a moonbase. Its always been known that ionizing radiation would be an issue without an atmosphere, but this is more solid evidence that they are present on the surface. They also can do cool stuff at the atomic level to form ionic bonds and create thing naturally that we just wouldn't find here on earth.

[-] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

Negative ions help with depression and if you’re stuck on the dark side of the moon, you’ll probably be depressed. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3598548/

The next step is to send humans to lick them and see if they taste good. Licking the lunar surface could reveal flavors never experienced by man or beast.

[-] KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

Read the article

[-] machinin@lemmy.world 27 points 5 months ago

Thanks, but yeah, the article just says the following:

The observations could have considerable implications for our understanding of what goes on in other spots in our celestial neighborhood that aren't protected by a magnetic field either.

"These observations on the Moon will help us better understand the surface environment and act as a pathfinder to explore negative ion populations in other airless bodies in the Solar System," NILS principal investigator Martin Wieser explained in the statement, "from planets to asteroids and other moons."

It doesn't really say why negative ions are significant, just that they are found in places without a magnetic field and may help us understand similar places. The research seems more in-depth, and the article send to lack important details.

this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2024

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