Tiny glass beads could reveal the Moon's secret history
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission.
You might see the Moon as a grey, lifeless orb that orbits our planet each day. However, many researchers believe that the Moon is more alive than we believe. Further, they believe that the Moon's secret history could help us learn more about how it formed billions of years ago.
While it might look grey from afar, the Moon is actually home to thousands (maybe even millions) of tiny glass beads. These beads, astronomers say, could actually help us learn more about our satellite's past, as they likely formed during a period of volcanic activity on the Moon.
Today's Top Deals
Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales
Best Ring Video Doorbell deals
Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98
Many believe that the Moon's secret history is tied to that volcanic activity and that these beads, which the Apollo astronauts brought back when they returned home, formed between 3.3 and 3.6 billion years ago. Now, researchers are using modern techniques to look deeper into the beads.
The researchers' findings suggest they have been able to look inside the beads and uncover more information about the microscopic minerals inside the lunar beads. Through this 'unprecedented view,' they were able to look back into the Moon's past. Each bead, the researchers note, tells its own version of that story.
Some of the beads are more orange in color, while others have a glossy black appearance. The fact that these beads even exist tells us more about the Moon's secret history of volcanic eruption, which we haven't been able to study in-depth.
Perhaps as we work to colonize other planets, and one day set up a Moon colony, we can figure out what caused these eruptions to eventually cease, as astronomers have long believed the Moon was 'dead' because of the lack of any modern eruptions.
Plus, the beads have a shape and chemical composition never before seen here on Earth. By analyzing them, the researchers know a bit more about our Moon than before.
More Top Deals
Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free
See the
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
39 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
China Joins US in Brain Implant Race With Clinical Trial
China's first clinical trial of a technology that allows signals from the brain to control an external device has proved successful, making it only the second country after the US to reach this stage, according to the Global Times. Chinese researchers used brain-computer interfaces, or BCI, a wireless invasive implant in a patient with tetraplegia in March, the English-language newspaper reported. Only a few weeks after the surgery, the patient was able to play racing games and chess on the computer using only the mind to control the electronic devices, it said, citing a statement from the Shanghai-based Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
How Sharks Got Their Reputation Back From 'Jaws'
In 1975, a mechanical great white shark terrorized beachgoers on the big screen in Jaws, launching a cultural phenomenon and an ecological crisis. The film raked in what would today equal nearly $2.7 billion and left a legacy of fear that fueled shark culls, trophy hunts, and policies rooted more in panic than science. That legacy is still felt in the water and in the public imagination. But in the decades since, researchers, filmmakers, and conservationists have worked tirelessly to change the story. They've had to counteract a narrative etched into pop culture with something far more nuanced and urgent: sharks are not villains. Instead, they are vital ocean predators facing serious threats. And instead of being hunted, they should be protected, because they're worth more alive than dead. The damage done by Jaws went beyond the silver screen. It gave sharks a brand problem. The irrational fear it sparked led to government-sanctioned culling programs, beach net installations, and recreational killing. Some species were pushed to the brink, their populations collapsing under the weight of fear-driven policy and overfishing. But as scientific understanding of sharks improved and marine ecosystems were better studied, the narrative began to shift. People started to realize that removing apex predators from the ocean had ripple effects throughout entire ecosystems. Coral reefs suffered, fish populations became unbalanced, and the ocean's health declined. Enter science communication and eco-tourism. A new generation of researchers, often appearing on platforms like Shark Fest, Shark Week or in nature documentaries like Blue Planet, began to reframe sharks not as mindless killers but as essential, often misunderstood animals. Tracking programs tagged great whites, hammerheads, and tiger sharks, producing maps that let the public follow their migrations in near real-time. This gave people a new way to connect with the animals and social media accounts connected to these individual sharks amplified the movements of these animals, demystifying the species while humanizing the work one sassy update at a time. At the same time, a global shark tourism industry began to grow. Today, shark tourism generates around $314 million annually and supports more than 10,000 jobs. In places like Australia, the Bahamas, Fiji, and South Africa, shark diving has become a major draw, bringing in revenue that helps fund local conservation efforts and research. Some communities that once relied on fishing sharks now make more money keeping them alive and inviting tourists to swim alongside them. It's a powerful economic argument — that a live shark can be worth far more than a dead one — that conservationists have used to shift attitudes. But changing public perception hasn't been easy, especially when a blockbuster like Jaws has left such a long cultural shadow to get out of. However, it seems like consistent messaging and education, especially when tied to real-world experiences, have begun to work. Conservation groups like The Shark Trust and The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy receive millions of dollars in donations and grants to study and protect sharks. Recent campaigns from non-novernmental grganizations and initiatives have focused on science-backed policy changes (such as creating marine protected areas) and free educational outreach content (as seen here by the Australian Marine Conservation Society). Citizen science efforts have also played a role, with divers around the world logging sightings, tagging programs opening to the public to raise money for science, and apps that let anyone contribute to data collection — all of which have helped foster a sense of shared responsibility for the future of these animals. Still, the contrast between the economic success of Jaws and the current push for shark conservation is stark. Jaws made about $470 million at the box office back in the 70s, which when adjusted for inflation is a few billion dollars. That single film's reach is hard to compete with. But what instead of competing to make all people everywhere not afraid of sharks, a replacement narrative was offered. One that says sharks are complex, diverse, and vulnerable. That humans are far more dangerous to sharks than the other way around. And that the health of our oceans depends on their survival. That's exactly what conservationists have done, and it seems to be working. It's fitting that 50 years after Jaws hit theaters, some of the very beaches that once feared shark sightings now advertise them. Shark festivals celebrate them. Dive operators depend on them. And schoolchildren are taught about their ecological importance, not their supposed bloodthirst. It is not a perfect recovery, as many shark species are still in danger from climate change, habitat destruction, and bycatch, but it's a striking transformation to what once was. The road to repairing sharks' reputations has been long and full of obstacles, and in many ways, it's a blueprint for how we might reframe other misunderstood or maligned species. That's the real plot twist.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eating this fatty snack every day can help you sleep better — scientists were surprised
Those delicious darlings on every brunch menu may be more than just a creamy topping. It turns out this popular green fruit — yes, it's a fruit — may just be the key to restful slumber, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers tracked 969 adults aged 25 and over who had abdominal obesity, which is characterized as a waistline that is 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men. For 26 weeks, half of the group ate one large Hass avocado per day while the other half continued their usual diet, which typically involved consuming less than two avocados per month. As expected, the avocado-eating group saw marked improvements in their blood lipids — fatty substances like triglycerides and cholesterol — and overall diet. But what caught researchers off guard was the fact that this trendy toast-topper also led to better sleep. The researchers noted that avocado's impact on sleep may be due to its powerhouse blend of nutrients, as it's 'rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin K, copper and pantothenic acid.' It also came as a surprise that avocado consumption was not associated with improved cardiovascular health, which was actually the original purpose of the study. The researchers noted that avocados could benefit slumber as part of a balanced, healthy diet and should not be treated as a solitary sleep aid. 'Sleep is emerging as a key lifestyle factor in heart health, and this study invites us to consider how nutrition — and foods like avocado — can play a role in improving it,' said Dr. Kristina Petersen, study author and associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State University. 'Cardiovascular health is influenced by many factors, and while no single food is a silver bullet, some — like avocados — offer a range of nutrients that support multiple aspects of heart health. This is an encouraging step in expanding the science around avocados and the potential benefits of consumption.' Other factors that can improve your sleep include cutting down on caffeine, curbing alcohol intake, kicking a smoking habit, exercising and limiting screen time before bed. This isn't the first time the versatile superfood has made headlines for unexpected benefits. Previous research suggests avocados may reduce 'bad' cholesterol and help with belly fat in women, thanks to their healthy fats and high fiber content. A 2024 study suggests that eating a small amount of avocado every day may lower a woman's risk for Type 2 diabetes. Just make sure not to overdo it. Experts generally recommend eating no more than one avocado per day to avoid unwanted weight gain.
