An artist's impression of the lunar pit on the Mare Tranquillitatis, which houses an accessible cave. Nasa
An artist's impression of the lunar pit on the Mare Tranquillitatis, which houses an accessible cave. Nasa
An artist's impression of the lunar pit on the Mare Tranquillitatis, which houses an accessible cave. Nasa
An artist's impression of the lunar pit on the Mare Tranquillitatis, which houses an accessible cave. Nasa

Moon cave discovery could pave way for lunar base for humans


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

A scientist who helped to uncover an underground cave on the Moon believes it could provide an "alternative habitat" to astronauts amid international efforts to create a permanent base on the lunar surface for humans.

A study on the discovery of the 100-metre-deep cave was published in the Nature science journal on Monday by scientists at the University of Trento in Italy along with an international team of researchers.

The findings back up long-held speculation from the scientific community over the existence of a network of underground caves on the Moon.

"These caves can be alternative habitat for future astronauts with respect to a base on the Moon surface," Dr Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento, and one of the lead authors of the study, told The National.

Dr Bruzzone and his colleague Leonardo Carrer identified the cave by using radar to examine a pit on Mare Tranquillitatis, a rocky plain visible from Earth and the landing site of Apollo 11 in 1969.

Shelter for astronauts

Humans have not landed on the Moon since the Apollo era, but space agencies now have a renewed interest in setting up bases on the lunar surface.

Nasa is working with international partners, including the UAE, to develop a lunar-orbiting station, where astronauts will live and then descend to the surface to carry out science research.

China is also trying to build a lunar base that would involve robots and astronauts.

A lunar lava tube photographed on the Moon. Image: Nasa
A lunar lava tube photographed on the Moon. Image: Nasa

"The main feature of caves is that they make available the main structural parts of a possible human base without requiring complex construction activities," said Dr Bruzzone.

Mahesh Anand, professor of planetary science and exploration at the UK-based The Open University, said that a lunar habitat inside a cave would be less hostile than what astronauts would experience on the lunar surface.

"For example, there would less fluctuation in ambient temperature between lunar day and night and more protection from space radiation and micrometeorite impacts," he said.

"However, getting access to 100m deep chute would be a challenge and would require innovative engineering solutions for establishing a sustainable habitat."

But there are also potential risks involved if astronauts were to use the cave as a habitat, including ensuring it is structurally stable and secure, according to Dr Bruzzone.

"What is important is that now we have identified an accessible cave that could be the target of a future robotic mission with a lander to explore, measure and understand better the conditions on these caves," he said.

Moon's rich history

The discovery could also help advance scientists' understanding of the Moon's geological history.

Dr Bruzzone said that the caves are a unique environment that preserve the history of the Moon and that analysing the rocks within could lead to new discoveries on lunar evolution.

"Analysing lunar cave rocks that are not altered by the harsh lunar surface environment can provide significant insights into key scientific questions such as the timeline and duration of lunar volcanic activity as well as the actual composition of the lunar mantle," he said.

The caves may also contain water ice, which Dr Bruzzone said is essential for long-term lunar missions.

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT

Valencia 3

Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'

Ferran Torres 67'

Atlanta 4

Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'

Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions

There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.

1 Going Dark

A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.

2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers

A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.

3. Fake Destinations

Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.

4. Rebranded Barrels

Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.

* Bloomberg

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)

Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.

Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.

Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.

Get your priorities right.

And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

Updated: July 16, 2024, 12:12 PM