According to reports, China's Chang'e lunar exploration team has discovered a mineral on the lunar surface similar to glass fiber, which is common on Earth but a first-time discovery on the Moon.
This discovery is of significant importance for deeper exploration of outer space, providing us with a more profound understanding of the Moon.
However, some American institutions remain skeptical, prompting us to bring this mineral back to Earth for detailed study.
Regarding glass fiber, the ancient astronomer Zhang Heng had unique insights.
He believed that the Moon's ability to emit sparkling light might be related to its special luminous material on the surface.
This might be connected to the glass fiber recently discovered on the Moon, although ancient glass-making technology was not developed, so glass was rarely used at that time.
Over time, interest in this bright phenomenon on the Moon gradually waned.
It wasn't until 1961 that Soviet scientists became the first to land on the Moon and brought back lunar soil for study, but they did not find similar luminescent substances.
In 1969, the US Apollo mission successfully landed astronauts on the Moon, yet they also did not discover this bright phenomenon in the lunar soil they brought back.
However, it wasn't until 2013, when China's Chang'e lunar exploration team brought lunar soil back to Earth, that glass fiber was discovered there!
This discovery is quite novel and differs from the samples obtained by the US Apollo missions, possibly due to the different sampling times leading to this oversight.
Records show that during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, astronauts did indeed see glass fiber on the Moon, but they brought back little due to its scarcity.
Curiously, subsequent US Apollo missions failed to find glass fiber in the samples brought back, prompting scientists to conduct a new round of research on lunar surface materials.
What secrets do these glass fibers from the Moon hide?
American scientists discovered a new substance named "borophosphophen" in the journal "Science," which resembles glass fiber.
It is said that such substances also exist on Earth but are extremely rare and difficult to find.
In fact, borophosphophen is actually the common mineral we know as calcite.
Scientists have found that they are formed by cooling of basaltic lava flows on the Moon or by rapid cooling of volcanic ash.
Scientific research sometimes seems profound, but what is discovered may be commonplace substances that we are familiar with.
The mysteries of the Moon are like ancient volcanoes, erupting basalt, and telling the story of the universe.
Volcanic activity between 1993 and 1994 indicated that basalt is very abundant on the Moon.
Borophosphophen may also be a product of volcanic activity, although scientific research says so, can the truth be completely certain?
In terms of space exploration, China, although starting later, has made tremendous achievements.
From "Dongfanghong 1" in 1978 to "Chang'e 1" in 2003, and then to the successful landing of the "Chang'e-4" probe on the lunar far side in 2019 and returning soil for study.
In particular, "Chang'e-4" became the first probe to successfully land on the far side of the Moon.
The Moon, as the celestial body closest to us, has always attracted human attention.
With the advancement of technology, it is natural for us to explore it through spacecraft and probes.
As ancient people said, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," understanding the Moon is also accumulated step by step.
Scientists have put forward various views and achievements in the research process, such as the phenomenon of "borophosphophen" on the Moon, clearly differing between China and the United States.
In the future, China plans to send materials needed to build a space station to the Moon.
Although China has not shared these materials with the United States, it still hopes to continue exploring Saturn.
However, it is difficult to predict whether other countries will join this exploration.
Since ancient times, people have believed that the Moon hides treasures.
Although the dream of relocating homes to live on the Moon sounds far-fetched, who can say for sure what the future holds?
Perhaps one day, this dream will truly become a reality.
However, the United States has objections to China's mining activities on the Moon, believing that this violates international rules of the game.
But frankly, they themselves are not without merit. Looking back on their history of investing in the Chinese telecommunications industry, China has rapidly surpassed them, which has made them somewhat nervous.
The mentality of fearing others surpassing oneself is not wise.
In this era, mutual respect and win-win cooperation are the most important.
The progress of other countries in global technological development should be a good thing rather than a threat.
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