Scientists believe that dust from the moon could potentially help shield the Earth from extreme temperatures caused by climate change. The proposal involves sending rockets to the moon to collect and fling moon dust into space, which would then partially block the intensity of sunlight shining on the Earth.
Although it may sound like a far-fetched idea, Professor Luke O'Neill explained on his podcast Show Me The Science that the proposal has already been modelled digitally, and scientists are confident about its efficacy. The process would involve building a base on the moon for mining devices to dig into the moon's surface and fractionate the dust into particles, which would then be catapulted into space.
The process would be a constant one, requiring ten billion kilograms of moon dust to be shot up into space every so often. This would prevent the full intensity of sunlight shining on the Earth and reduce the impact of global warming.
The greenhouse effect traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, and the heat comes from the sun. By reducing the intensity of sunlight, the proposal could help to turn down the dial on global warming by approximately 1.8%, according to Professor O'Neill.
Despite the seeming unlikelihood of this proposal being successful, a reputable journal has published the research. The proposal could be a promising step towards combating the devastating effects of climate change.
While the proposal may sound outlandish, it is not the first time that scientists have considered the use of space technology to mitigate climate change. In recent years, proposals have included space mirrors, carbon dioxide scrubbers, and asteroid mining.
The moon dust proposal has gained traction in recent years and could be a feasible solution to the challenges of climate change. While more research is required to understand its feasibility, it has the potential to be a groundbreaking approach to reducing the impact of climate change on our planet.