There is also glass on the moon! The latest discovery of China scientist Moon Soil

　　Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, May 7 (Reporter Lu Chengkuan) There is also glass on the moon! On the 7th, the reporter learned from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences that through the systematic material science research on the lunar soil samples of Chang ‘e-5, Chinese researchers discovered various types of lunar glass materials with different origins. More importantly, they also found natural glass fiber for the first time in the lunar soil of Chang ‘e V. Related research results were published online in the National Science Review.

　　When it comes to glass, we usually think of beautiful French windows, colorful glass crafts and electronic screens everywhere. In fact, glass is not only an important man-made material, but also a ubiquitous natural substance in nature. Even on the desolate and barren surface of the moon, there are still rich glass materials produced by volcanic eruption, geological movement, meteorite impact and other activities.

　　Many glasses on the moon can exist stably for hundreds of millions of years. Lunar glass is an important material to explore the mystery of the moon, which not only preserves the ancient lunar material, but also records the environmental information when it was formed. "The lunar soil sample of Chang ‘e V provides an excellent opportunity to reveal the origin and evolution of the moon, understand the lunar surface and space environment, and promote the in-situ utilization of lunar resources. It also provides a valuable sample for the study of extraterrestrial glass materials." Bai Haiyang, a researcher at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.

　　This time, the researchers comprehensively analyzed the shape, composition, microstructure and formation mechanism of glass in the lunar soil sample of Chang ‘e-5. They found that there are many glass origins of solid, liquid and gas transition paths on the surface of the moon. The melting and rapid cooling of minerals caused by frequent meteorite and micrometeorite impacts on the surface of the moon have produced various forms of glass substances, including spherical, ellipsoidal and dumbbell-shaped glass beads, cementite with pore structure, and sputtered materials in fluid form.

　　"The glass materials originated from these impacts record the multi-scale impact events on the surface of the moon from thousands of meters to nanometers. The shape of the relevant solidified glass depends on the viscosity of the glass-forming liquid dominated by the impact temperature, from which the impact strength of meteorites can be deduced, which is of great significance for understanding the formation and evolution of lunar soil." Introduction of Dr. Zhao Rui from Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

　　It is particularly noteworthy that researchers first discovered natural glass fibers in the lunar soil of Chang ‘e V. These glass fibers with ultra-high aspect ratio come from the thermoplastic molding of viscous liquid during impact. Compared with glass beads with low aspect ratio, the liquid viscosity of these glass fibers is higher, which means the corresponding impact temperature and impact rate are lower. This reflects the mild micro-impact event on the surface of the moon.

　　At the same time, "these natural glass fibers prove that lunar soil has good glass forming ability and excellent processing and molding characteristics, and affirm the feasibility of using local materials on the surface of the moon to process and produce glass building materials, which will provide important support for the future construction of lunar bases." Shen Laiquan, an associate researcher at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.