An unprecedented discovery shakes the scientific community: Researchers from the University of Trento in Italy have discovered a cave about a hundred meters deep on the surface of the moon. The study, recently published in the journal Nature Astronomy, reveals that this formation was created billions of years ago by lunar lava, and could represent a future home for humans on the satellite.
The cave, located in the area known as the “Sea of Tranquility,” not only confirms the existence of underground structures on the moon, but also raises the exciting possibility of human bases being built there.
According to researchers Lorenzo Brusoni and Leonardo Carrer, who are responsible for the research, this discovery is similar to volcanic caves found on Earth, such as those found in Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands.
“Life on Earth originated in caves, so it’s not surprising to think that in the future we could inhabit caves on the Moon,” Carrier told the BBC. The cave opening, initially thought to be a simple lunar well, was penetrated by a manned probe, allowing the interior to be explored for the first time.
The study represents a major advance in lunar exploration, paving the way for new research methods using radars, robots and cameras to map the cave’s interior in detail. The analysis promises to reveal valuable insights into the history of the moon and the solar system, by analyzing rocks that can be preserved in ideal conditions in the underground environment.
