SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 23, 2025Scientific American

The Moon Is Rusting—Thanks to ‘Wind’ Blown from Earth

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Oxygen particles blown from Earth to the Moon are causing lunar minerals to rust, according to recent laboratory experiments. Scientists found that when Earth blocks solar particles for five days each month, "Earth wind" containing oxygen ions bombards the Moon, transforming iron-rich lunar minerals into hematite (rust). This discovery highlights the deep interconnection between Earth and Moon, with our satellite essentially keeping a record of these interactions.

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