t Earth’s atmosphere may have been reaching the Moon for billions of years. (Image: Canva)
Science
M
Moneycontrol05-01-2026, 16:05

Moon Hides Earth's Ancient Air: New Study Reveals Billions of Years of Atmospheric Transfer

  • A new study suggests Earth's magnetic field transports atmospheric particles to the Moon.
  • Charged particles from Earth's upper atmosphere are guided by the magnetic field and solar wind towards the Moon.
  • These particles have settled into lunar soil for billions of years, creating a "frozen archive" of Earth's past.
  • This process explains puzzling gases found in Apollo mission samples, now identified as originating from Earth.
  • Future Moon missions can analyze these lunar deposits to uncover Earth's ancient atmospheric history and climate shifts.

Why It Matters: Moon's soil holds billions of years of Earth's atmospheric history, a crucial archive for future study.

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