MIT researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the Moon’s ancient magnetic field. For decades, scientists have puzzled over why some lunar rocks show signs of a once-strong magnetic field, even though the Moon today has almost none. The latest findings suggest a massive impact event may have temporarily intensified the Moon’s weak magnetic field, leaving evidence in lunar rocks that we can still detect today.
How a Cosmic Collision Changed Lunar Magnetism
MIT scientists propose that when a huge object collided with the Moon, it caused a surge in the lunar magnetic field. This impact-generated boost was brief but strong enough to imprint itself on certain rocks. As a result, these rocks now serve as a record of that dramatic moment in the Moon’s history. This finding helps answer one of the biggest questions in lunar science: how could the Moon’s surface have such magnetic imprints without a lasting global magnetic field?
New Insights Into Our Moon’s History
With this discovery, we gain a deeper understanding of how celestial bodies evolve after giant impacts. It could also help explain mysterious magnetic signatures on other worlds. As scientists continue exploring the Moon, each revelation brings us closer to unraveling the secrets of our solar system.
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