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The Moon's Magnetic Umbrellas

Posted by Zonk on from the living-on-the-mooooon dept.

eldavojohn writes "When it comes to space exploration, there are things that are good for humans (water) and things that are bad for humans (radiation). In order for exploration of the moon to occur, its lack of a global magnetic shield to block solar radiation must be addressed. Luckily, scientists have discovered that there are highly magnetized areas of the moon's crust that could shield settlements." From the article: "Current evidence suggests that impact-basin ejecta materials [material blasted out by huge asteroid or comet impacts] are the most likely sources of many or all of the magnetic fields ... These ejecta contain microscopic metallic iron particles that are the carriers of the magnetization."

18 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. hmmm... by operato · · Score: 3, Funny

    can't we just hide underneath some rocks? or can radiation get through moon rock since it's made of cheese?

    1. Re:hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      It takes work to hid under rocks. Not as much as it takes to use a shift key, but it still takes some work.

    2. Re:hmmm... by The+Lone+Man · · Score: 1, Funny

      It takes work to hide under rocks. Not as much as it takes to use an 'e' key, but it still takes some work.

  2. Three words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Rediculous Liberal Myth

    And not just the umbrellas, the whole moon.

    1. Re:Three words by 2nd+Post! · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's a good thing you can't spell ridiculous, or we would have to take you siriusly.

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    2. Re:Three words by hal2814 · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, no, no. It's REDiculous. As in the Reds or Commies. It's not just bad, it's Communist.

  3. This is ridiculous by Timesprout · · Score: 5, Funny

    How the fuck can cheese possibly be magnetic!

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  4. TMA-1 by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 5, Funny

    I understand there's a large magnetic anomoly in the Tycho crater...

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    1. Re:TMA-1 by networkBoy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Great. You spoiler you. you just ruined it for me, not there's no point in watching the movie. Haven't you heard of ROT-13 encoding for spoilers?
      .
      .
      .
      insensitive clod.

      -nB ;)

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    2. Re:TMA-1 by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 2, Funny

      He was trying to be super-secret with his spoilers, so he used double ROT-13.

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  5. Short List by richdun · · Score: 5, Funny

    Other things that are bad for humans in space:

    Vaccuum
    Lack of hospitable worlds within a light-lifetime of Earth
    Space junk in LEO
    Lack of food/flora/fauna
    Lack of easy return trips
    Metric/English conversions
    Klingons
    Frakking toasters
    Pod bay doors
    Random ion storms which give superhuman powers
    Maniacal dictators who for some reason want to use their newest Deus Ex Machina on Earth ...

    1. Re:Short List by Apocalypse111 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Random ion storms which give superhuman powers

      I thought you said these things were supposed to be bad for humans... if that's the case sign me up, I'll take one for the team here.

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    2. Re:Short List by Matimus · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...superhuman powers

      ...I'll take one for the team

      I don't think giving superhuman powers to a guy named Apocalypse111 is the best move.

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  6. Great settlement idea. by hal2814 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's build our moon colony in the areas where there are strange magnetic readings. And when those colonists disappear mysteriously, we can send in a crack commando team to investigate. This would lead to entertaining action, some mild humor, and perhaps even a little romance.

  7. Magnetic Anomalies on the Moon by ettlz · · Score: 3, Funny
    To: Lightspeed Traveller <lbt@astro-bio.uorion.ac>
    From: Ascended Super Thingy <ast@astro-bio.uorion.ac>

    I still maintain the point that designing a black monolith in 2001 is
    a fundamental error. Be thankful you are not my student. You would not
    get a high grade for such a design :-)

    AST
    Head of Alien Protosocietal Development

  8. Alternative explanation by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 2, Funny

    Those fields are obviously pollution left behind by some fool leaving his Cavorite sphere idling in park. Will someone please think of the Selenites?

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  9. Magnetic umbrellas? by smittyoneeach · · Score: 3, Funny

    Magnetic umbrellas?
    Listen, fellas.
    Stop the rays
    Or so they tell us:
    Burma Shave

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  10. Re:Never going to happen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    2) Mars is ugly too, but even beyond that, it won't be allowed because we won't want to screw up the natural environment for study.

    Can't study it properly if we don't go there.
    Spirit and Rover both messaged for you to go stuff yourself.

    (Apparently they're Slashdot readers -- who knew?)