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☆ Mars volcano the size of Mount Everest was hiding in plain sight, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Scientists may have pinpointed a massive, oddly shaped volcano taller than Mount Everest on the surface of Mars — and it has been hiding in plain sight for decades, according to new research. Some of the largest volcanoes on Mars lie relatively close to the proposed “Noctis volcano.” Shown here: 1) Olympus Mons, the tallest known volcano in our solar system. This NASA visualization of the Tharsis rise shows Olympus Mons, Tharsis Montes, Noctis Labyrinthus, and Valles Marineris. NASA SVSA volcano, a glacier and the history of MarsThe existence of a volcano in Noctis Labyrinthus could also help explain the creation of this bizarre landscape. The existence of a volcano in the region, Lee said, might offer more support for the latter theory.

Persons: Everest, Pascal Lee, NASA SVS Lee, Sourabh, Lee, “ It’s, ”, NASA’s, Noctis Labyrinthus, “, ” Lee, Shubham, Adrien Broquet, we’ve, —, we’re, Noctis, Ernst Hauber, ” Hauber, David Horvath —, Tucson , Arizona —, Broquet, Horvath, ” Horvath, Carl Sagan Organizations: CNN —, Mars, Planetary Science Conference, Olympus, NASA, University of Maryland, College, CNN, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance, Marineris, Humboldt Research, German Aerospace Center, SETI Institute, German Aerospace Center’s, of Planetary Research, Planetary Science Institute Locations: The Woodlands , Texas, That’s, Mars, Noctis, Valles, Tharsis Montes, Labyrinthus, Tucson , Arizona

☆ Star dunes: Ancient find helps scientists unravel secrets of mysterious sand structures
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Using radar scans and analysis of sand grains buried deep inside the star dune, scientists mapped the mound’s internal structure. “It’s moving about half a meter per year,” demonstrating that star dunes are about as active as most other dunes, Duller told CNN. A mystery solvedThe new findings also addressed a longstanding mystery for geologists: Where is all the ancient evidence of star dunes? Star dunes are so big; perhaps eroded parts of their preserved structures were previously identified as standalone remnants of other types of dunes, the study authors reported. “The fact that star dunes have not been identified very much in the stratigraphic record may partly be because many geologists were not very much aware of star dunes and only knew about longitudinal dunes and barchans (crescent-shaped dunes),” Goudie said.

Persons: ” Andrew Goudie, Goudie, ”, Geoff, “, Lala Lallia, Charles Bristow, ” Bristow, Chebbi, Charlie Bristow, Bristow, ” Goudie, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, University of Oxford, Aberystwyth University, sedimentology, Birkbeck College, University of London, University of London's Birkbeck, Google, Scientific Locations: Erg Chebbi, Morocco, United Kingdom, Wales, Aberystwyth, Scotland

☆ The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is rapidly melting. Scientists now have evidence for when it started and why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They have discovered it started retreating rapidly in the 1940s, according to a new study that provides an alarming insight into future melting. The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is the world’s widest and roughly the size of Florida. “Once an ice sheet retreat is set in motion it can continue for decades, even if what started it gets no worse,” he told CNN. While similar retreats have happened much further back in the past, the ice sheet recovered and regrew, Smith said. “Further events arising more from the warming climate trend took things further, and started the widespread retreat we’re seeing today,” he told CNN.

Persons: Antarctica’s, Thwaites, Joshua Stevens, Julia Wellner, that’s, ” Wellner, you’re, James Smith, “, ”, Smith, ” Thwaites, Jeremy Harbeck, NASA Ted Scambos, Martin Truffer, Truffer, — Organizations: CNN —, National Academy of Sciences, El, West, NASA, Observatory, University of Houston, CNN, British Antarctic Survey, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Alaska Locations: West Antarctica, Florida, Pine, Antarctica, University of Alaska Fairbanks, “

☆ Data from sponges suggest the world has overshot a climate limit, new study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

These findings, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, are alarming but also controversial. Other scientists say the study contains too many uncertainties and limitations to draw such firm conclusions and could end up confusing public understanding of climate change. Researchers say the results also suggest global temperature could overshoot 2 degrees of warming by the end of the decade. Changing that baseline would mean the world has already warmed at least 1.7 degrees (scientists say long-term global warming currently stands at between 1.2 to 1.3 degrees). Whatever the baseline for measuring global warming, what remains clear, experts say, is that the impacts will worsen with every fraction of a degree of warming.

Persons: ” Malcolm McCulloch, Gavin Schmidt, ”, Gabi Hegerl, Yadvinder Malhi, It’s, Amos Winter, Joeri Rogelj, “, Winter Organizations: CNN, University of Western, NASA, University of Edinburgh, Environmental, Institute, University of Oxford, Indiana State University, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London Locations: Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Paris, University of Western Australia

☆ Sanfordiacaulis: New ancient tree species looks like it could be from the mind of Dr. Seuss
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Ayurella Horn-Muller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The authors said these new and unusual fossil trees not only bear a surprising shape reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss illustration, they reveal clues about a period of life on Earth of which we know little. Few tree fossils that date back to Earth’s earliest forests have ever been found, according to Gastaldo. Most ancient tree specimens are relatively small, he noted, and often discovered in the form of a fossilized trunk with a stump or root system attached. Wilf noted via email that the “unusual” new fossil tree was a relic of a time period from which there are almost no tree fossils. The peculiar set of tree fossils presents proof of a “failed experiment of science and evolution,” Stimson added.

Persons: Seuss, ”, Robert Gastaldo, sedimentologist, “, Coauthors Olivia King, Matthew Stimson, Gastaldo, “ gobsmacked, Tim, Laurie Sanford, Stimson, ” Stimson, Peter Wilf, Wilf, ” Wilf, Dr, King, “ We’re, fossilization, ” Gastaldo Organizations: CNN, Colby College, New Brunswick Museum, geosciences, Pennsylvania State University Locations: Canadian, New Brunswick, Waterville , Maine, paleobotanist

☆ Oldest mosquito fossil comes with a bloodsucking surprise
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Dany Azar/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are killed annually by malaria and other diseases spread through the bite of mosquitoes, insects that date back to the age of dinosaurs. To their surprise, the male mosquitoes possessed elongated piercing-sucking mouthparts seen now only in females. Some flying insects - tsetse flies, for instance - have hematophagous males. "In all hematophagous insects, we believe that hematophagy was a shift from plant liquid sucking to bloodsucking," Azar said. The researchers said while these are the oldest fossils, mosquitoes probably originated millions of years earlier.

Persons: Dany Azar, Handout, " Azar, Azar, André Nel, hematophagy, Nel, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Chinese Academy of Sciences ' Nanjing Institute of Geology, Lebanese University, National Museum of, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Hammana, Paris

☆ Earth’s core may have been leaking helium for millions of years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

They wanted to investigate the rocks that may contain insights about the contents locked within Earth’s core and mantle, the mostly solid layer of Earth’s interior located beneath its surface. Helium inherited from the solar nebula likely became locked in Earth’s core as the planet formed, making the core a reservoir of noble gases. “So, the helium we measured in these rocks would have escaped the core perhaps 100 million years ago or possibly much earlier.”Helium leaking from Earth’s core doesn’t affect our planet or have any negative implications, he said. If so, have fluxes of these elements from the core over (Earth’s) history influenced planetary evolution? I am excited to investigate links between helium and other light elements,” Horton said.

Persons: ”, Forrest Horton, ” Horton, It’s, Solveigh Lass, Evans, Finlay Stuart, Horton, “ Organizations: CNN —, Oceanographic, University of Edinburgh, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Nunavut Research Institute, NASA Locations: Nunavut, Canada, Nature, Baffin, Greenland, North America

☆ 'A very unique battle': How geography could shape Israel's expected ground offensive in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ahead of such an attack, one military geography specialist outlined to CNBC how the physical features of the Gaza Strip could influence any fighting. He warned, however, that any kind of ground offensive from Israel's military would be a highly dangerous "cat and mouse game" of urban warfare, one with a particularly unique subterranean element. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesThe Gaza Strip is a narrow portion of land sandwiched between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. "We have to destroy Hamas on the ground to find Hamas members within the underground tunnels, in the holes, in their headquarters," Amidror said Friday. watch nowIndeed, Galgano said Hamas' likely best defense against Israel's forthcoming ground offensive would be to stay underground in its tunnel system.

Persons: Din, Francis Galgano, Galgano, Yaakov Amidror, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amidror Organizations: Hamas, Getty, Israel, Palestinian, United Nations, CNBC, Department, Environment, Villanova University in, Anadolu Agency, U.S . Army, Israel's National Security Council, Israel's Locations: Gaza, Israel, Villanova University in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Anadolu, Egypt, Gaza City, winkle, Hamas

☆ Geologist Marie Tharp mapped the ocean floor and helped solve one of science's biggest controversies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Back then, no one knew what the ocean floor looked like — until one woman used her many talents to find out. When she reflected on her life, geologist Marie Tharp recollected being able to fill in the blanks of the ocean floor, which she saw as a fascinating jigsaw puzzle. Their final project together was the World Ocean Floor Map. The Heezen-Tharp “World Ocean Floor” map painted by Heinrich Berann. Marie Tharp Maps, LLCAfter Heezen's death, organizations that had hired him and Tharp to work on projects reassigned them.

Persons: didn't, Marie Tharp, Marie Tharp recollected, Tharp, Columbia University's, Lamont, Alfred Wegener's, Wegener, he'd, Bailey Willis, Willis, Bettie Higgs, Maurice Ewing, Roberta Eike, Tharp didn't, they'd, Bruce Heezen, Frank Albert Charles Burke, Heezen, Howard Foster, she'd, Ewing, Jacques Cousteau, Cousteau, Marie Tharp's, Heinrich Berann, you'd, It's, Hali Felt, Higgs, Society's Hubbard, Mary, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, George Washington Organizations: Service, Columbia, Columbia University's Lamont Geological Laboratory, University of Michigan, Columbia University, Lamont, Fairfax Media, Getty, US Navy, Oceanographic Conference, ABC, Disney, Entertainment, National Geographic, Mary Sears Woman, Oceanography Locations: Wall, Silicon, German, American, Lamont, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia , Massachusetts, France, Gibraltar, United States

☆ A Colorado City Has Been Battling for Decades to Use Its Own Water
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( David Gelles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

The City Council bought about 17,000 acres of farmland 60 miles to the north, near Fort Collins, along with the associated water rights. Today, almost 40 years later, the water Mr. Ethredge secured for his city remains out of reach. The city purchased 17,000 acres of farmland 60 miles north, near Fort Collins, decades ago. The Thornton water treatment plant. ; Thornton Water Project By Leanne AbrahamBack when Mr. Ethredge secured the water rights up north, Thornton planners figured they would need that water by 2000.

Persons: Jack Ethredge, Ethredge, Thornton, Ethredge’s, Mr, “, ”, Jeni Arndt, Thornton’s, Brett Henry, “ We’ve, we’ve, Denver Thornton, Colorado Adams Thornton, Leanne Abraham Back, Fort Collins, Barry Feldman, Feldman, Gary Wockner, “ We’re, we’re, Henry, Barbara Cohen, Ted Leighty, “ Thornton, Maiker, Peter LiFari, Christina Ra, Roger Uthmann, Wockner, Uthmann, ” Thornton, ” Mr Organizations: City Council, Housing, San, Loveland Greeley, Weld County Colorado Larimer Boulder Longmont, Boulder Adams, Denver Thornton Colorado, Greeley Weld, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Adams, Colorado Adams Thornton Denver, Colorado Supreme, Thornton, Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, Maiker Housing Partners, “ Locations: Thornton, Colo, Denver, Fort Collins, “, Rocky, Thornton’s, Colorado, San Luis Valley, Douglas County, In Texas, San Antonio, Collins, Loveland, Loveland Greeley Rocky, Weld County, Denver Thornton Colorado Denver, Greeley, Greeley Weld Larimer, Larimer County, Larimer, Thorton, Laporte

☆ A Thousand Tiny Quakes: Documenting Russian Bombings in New Detail
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( James Glanz | Josh Holder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The explosions came one after another, a relentless series of bombings that echoed across Kyiv in the first weeks of the war. On the fourth day of the war, an explosion was detected at the Hostomel airport outside Kyiv. Maxar TechnologiesThe force from the explosion sent seismic waves toward two dozen nearby sensors, the equivalent of a tiny 0.2-magnitude earthquake. Midnight Jan. 2022 Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Time of day Midnight 6 a.m. Let’s hope this approach will also be developed over time to reveal intentional attacks on civilians, and thereby deter perpetrators.”

Persons: Dando, ”, Ben Dando, Jan, Sebastian Schutte, Schutte, ” Keith Koper, Koper, “ Organizations: Residents, The New York Times, Maxar, Kyiv, Peace Research Institute, University of Utah, ” Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Russia, Norway, NORSAR, Hostomel, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Greece wildfires: A losing battle to save the lungs of Athens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Eleni Giokos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The national park, known as the "lungs of Athens" is now home to a battle to repel wildfires. Now it is the home to a raging battle, as the emergency services try to repel more than 200 wildfires in Greece since Monday alone. Firefighters look at a wildfire burning on Mount Parnitha, in Athens, Greece, August 24, 2023. Burning cars destroyed by the fire on Mount Parnitha in Athens, Greece, on August 23, 2023. It was a welcome glimmer of hope, but it will take more than a little water to protect Greece from these wildfires and those that will surely come again.

Persons: Nikos, Eleni Giokos, CNN Nikos, ”, Nicolas Economou, Kostas, Michalis Diakakis, Parnitha, Giorgos Arapekos, Dr Diakakis, Nikos ’ Organizations: Greece CNN, CNN, Reuters, of Geology, Kapodistrian University of Athens, AP, Police Locations: Athens, Greece, Paraskevi, Panitha, Greece’s, ”, Parnitha, Dadia, Alexandroupoli, Evros

☆ Fountains of diamonds erupt from the ground when continents break up, say scientists — and it could help uncover new deposits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

These eruptions have baffled scientists as they happen more often after continents break up. "The pattern of diamond eruptions is cyclical, mimicking the rhythm of the supercontinents, which assemble and break up in a repeated pattern over time," Gernon said. In fact, scientists found that most kimberlite volcanoes occurred 20 to 30 million years after the tectonic breakup of Earth's continents. But instead, it tends to appear in "a sweet spot in the interior of continents where diamonds form," Gernon said. Sergei Karpukhin/ReutersThe scientists say having uncovered this chain reaction could help discover diamond deposits in the future.

Persons: Tom Ger, Gernon, Stephen Jones, Jones, Sergei Karpukhin, he'll Organizations: Service, University of Southampton, Guardian, Reuters, University of Birmingham, Nature Locations: Wall, Silicon, kimberlite, Russia

EL CAJON, California, Aug 11 (Reuters) - California firefighters are using artificial intelligence to help spot wildfires, feeding video from more than 1,000 cameras strategically placed across the state into a machine that alerts first responders when to mobilize. But AI alerted a fire captain who called in about 60 firefighters including seven engines, two bulldozers, two water tankers and two hand crews. Part of Leininger's job is to help the machine learn. With hundreds of specialists repeating the exercise up and down the state, the AI has already become more accurate in just a few weeks, Driscoll said. "We need to use technology to help move the needle, even if it's a little bit."

Persons: Neal Driscoll, ALERTCalifornia, Shane Montgomery, Mike Blake, Suzann Leininger, Driscoll, Daniel Trotta, Donna Bryson, Diane Craft Organizations: Cleveland National Forest, Cal Fire, University of California, UCSD, Cal, Bronco, Cal Fire Air Attack, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: CAJON , California, California, Cleveland, San Diego, University of California San Diego, Chico , California, Hawaii, Canada, Ramona, San Diego County , California, U.S, El Cajon

☆ There is a ‘gravity hole’ in the Indian Ocean, and scientists now think they know why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a “gravity hole” in the Indian Ocean — a spot where Earth’s gravitational pull is weaker, its mass is lower than normal, and the sea level dips by over 328 feet (100 meters). The “gravity hole” in the Indian Ocean — officially called the Indian Ocean geoid low — is the lowest point in that geoid and its biggest gravitational anomaly, forming a circular depression that starts just off India’s southern tip and covers about 1.2 million square miles (3 million square kilometers). In six of the scenarios, a geoid low similar to the one in the Indian Ocean formed. The future of the geoid lowThe geoid low formed around 20 million years ago, according to the team’s calculation. Past research only simulated the descent of cold material across the mantle, rather than including hot rising mantle plumes as well.

Persons: ”, Attreyee Ghosh, Ghosh, Felix Andries Vening Meinesz, hasn’t, ” Ghosh, ” Huw Davies, ” Davies, Alessandro Forte, Forte Organizations: CNN, Indian Institute of Science, Research, Earth Sciences, of Earth, Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, University of Florida Locations: Bengaluru, India, Dutch, Asia, Gainesville, Réunion, Africa, Eurasia

☆ Homo naledi buried their dead 100,000 years before humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The study team lays out fossils of Homo naledi at the University of the Witwatersrand's Evolutionary Studies Institute in Johannesburg. One body belonged to an adult Homo naledi, and the other was a juvenile. In 2018, the team began to find evidence that supported the idea that Homo naledi intentionally buried their dead. Carvings on the wallWithin one of the graves is a tool-shaped rock, buried next to the hand of a Homo naledi adult. The "tool shaped rock" was likely buried near or clutched in the hand of a young teenage Homo naledi child buried in the Hill Antechamber.

Persons: naledi, Robert Clark, Homo naledi, Lee Berger, Homo, paleoartist John Gurche, Mark Thiessen, ”, Berger, Tebogo Makhubela, Keneiloe Molopyane, ” Berger, “, John Hawks, Hawks, “ It’s, they’ve, Agustín Fuentes, ” Fuentes, Fuentes, Lee Berger Chris Stringer, ” Stringer Organizations: CNN —, University of, Evolutionary Studies, UNESCO, Geographic, University of Johannesburg, Expedition, University of Wisconsin - Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, University of Wisconsin - Madison

☆ A ‘Dirty’ Job That Few Want: Mining Companies Struggle to Hire for the Energy Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Despite their part in the energy transition, mining companies face a perception of being in a “dirty” industry thanks to a legacy of mining disasters and accusations of worker exploitation and sexual assault. Canada’s mining and mineral-engineering enrollment was down 10% in 2020 compared with 2016, according to Canada’s Mining Industry Human Resources Council. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS What message should mining companies deliver to young workers to attract them to the industry? Mining companies also face accusations of exploitation of local workforces. She hopes that younger workers will help mining companies evolve, taking on more social responsibility and improving their mining practices.

Persons: Lily Dickson, Mawson, ”, Alex Gorman, Peel Hunt, Rohitesh Dhawan, Alex Gorman “, Gorman, “, Haydon Mort, Stacy Hope, Cole Burston, Hope, Codelco, Centamin, Martin Horgan, Mort, Geologize, Jamie Kelsey Fry, Dickson, Yusuf Khan Organizations: University of Leeds, Leeds, Rio Tinto, McKinsey, U.S . National Center for Education Statistics, Canada’s Mining, Resources Council, Peel, International Council, Mining, Metals, Tinto, of Labor Statistics, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Geologize Ltd, BHP, . Workers, Bloomberg, Codelco, Chilean, Walmart, Recruiting, Centamin, Sustainable Business, “ Locations: Finland, Vancouver, Europe, U.S, Australia, Rio, South Africa, Lily Dickson Canada, Botswana, “, Saharan Africa, Ontario, Canada, Chile, Africa, Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, yusuf.khan

☆ The world’s largest lakes are shrinking dramatically and scientists say they have figured out why
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Lake water levels fluctuate in response to natural climate variations in rain and snowfall, but they are increasingly affected by human actions. The Caspian Sea, between Asia and Europe – the world’s largest inland body of water – has long been declining due to climate change and water use. NASA NASA The Caspian Sea is rapidly shrinking due to climate change and human activity. NASAThe researchers used satellite measurements of nearly 2,000 of the world’s largest lakes and reservoirs, which together represent 95% of Earth’s total lake water storage. The report found losses in lake water storage everywhere, including in the humid tropics and the cold Arctic.

☆ Size of Jurassic sea giant found, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The findings from the Late Jurassic period, though fragmentary, suggest the pliosaur was about twice the size of a killer whale — and move lead study author David Martill closer to redemption. However, he cautioned that an increase in length corresponds with an “exponential increase in volume … placing a biological limit on the upper size pliosaurs could reach.” Smith wasn’t involved in the study. Pliosaurs were “a group of large carnivorous marine reptiles characterized by massive heads, short necks and streamlined tear-shaped bodies,” according to Britannica. Benton wasn’t involved in the study. “Here is a marine reptile as large as a sperm whale, and there’s nothing like it around today.”

☆ NASA detects first seismic waves within Mars' core
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

During these events, InSight detected for the first time seismic waves traveling through the Martian core. “More than a hundred years later, we’re applying our knowledge of seismic waves to Mars. With InSight, we’re finally discovering what’s at the center of Mars and what makes Mars so similar yet distinct from Earth.”The NASA InSight Mars lander studied the interior of Mars for four years. Planetary core offers clues on evolutionEarth has a liquid outer core and a solid inner core, but the Martian core appears to be made entirely from liquid. “We’ve made the very first observations of seismic waves travelling through the core of Mars.

☆ Intriguing moon water source found in glass beads from impacts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The researchers see promise in obtaining water from the glass beads, perhaps through a heating process to release vapor that would then turn into liquid through condensation. "We can simply heat these glass beads to free the water stored in them," said planetary scientist and study co-author Hejiu Hui of Nanjing University in China. The glass beads were found to hold a water content of up to about 2,000 parts per million by weight. Hu said he believes that such impact glass beads are a common part of lunar soils, found globally and spread evenly. The interaction of the solar wind with lunar surface materials could sustain a water cycle on the moon, with the glass beads absorbing the water and acting as a repository for it, the researchers said.

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