Scientists at the University of Oxford think they’ve unlocked the mystery behind the Moon’s magnetic field, a debate that has puzzled researchers since the Apollo missions brought back lunar samples.
NASA astronauts found signs that suggested the Moon had a strong magnetic field long ago, even stronger than Earth’s at times. However, this created a contradiction. The Moon’s core is small—about one-seventh the radius of Earth—which raises questions about how it could generate such powerful magnetism.
New research led by Claire Nichols from Oxford’s Department of Earth Sciences sheds light on this puzzle. The team focused on a type of lunar rock called Mare basalts. They discovered a connection between the rocks’ titanium content and their magnetic strength. Rocks with high titanium levels were linked to stronger magnetic fields, while those with less than 6% titanium showed weaker fields.
Nichols noted, “The Apollo samples may be biased toward rare events that lasted only a few thousand years, misleading us into thinking these represented a longer duration in lunar history. Most of the Moon’s existence likely featured a weak magnetic field.”
Interestingly, this study suggests that strong magnetic fields arose during short periods, potentially lasting just a few decades. These events coincided with the melting of titanium-rich materials deep within the Moon.
Co-author Dr. Simon Stephenson remarked, “We can predict which moon samples will hold strong magnetic signals. The upcoming Artemis missions could give us the chance to explore this further.”
These findings change how we view the Moon’s history. They help us understand that what we thought about its magnetic past might be based on a limited sample of materials.
By examining these lunar rocks, scientists hope to gain deeper insights into the Moon’s evolution and its magnetic characteristics over time. For more detailed information, you can check out studies from credible sources like the NASA Lunar Science Institute.
This revelation about the Moon serves as a reminder of how much we still have to learn about our nearest celestial neighbor.
