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Moon dust may sound like the stuff of dreams, but it's real, and now scientists say it's opening up a new world of possibilities for space exploration
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Material from the moon, or lunar regolith, can potentially be transformed into solar cells, helping create a future where humans inhabit the moon
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Researchers say the material found on the lunar surface could be used to develop a unique type of solar panel
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To test the theory, researchers used similar material to regolith, focused sunlight on it, and successfully created an electrical current
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Scientists say moon glass has advantages over traditional glass. A natural brown tint helps prevent a reduction in energy absorption over time
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It's also resistant to cosmic radiation abundantly found in space. Scientists also note it would limit the need for Earth-made glass, which increases launch costs due to heavy payloads
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However, there are disadvantages. For instance, traditional solar cells have a higher efficiency than current moon glass solar cells
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Scientists say they can fix this by removing impurities within so-called moon dust
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There are also many unanswered questions, including the lifespan of lunar glass and the stability of solar cells on the moon
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Scientists are pushing for a mission to the moon to conduct experiments with solar energy to test their theories
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and say if successful, it may be the key to powering lunar bases and creating long-term settlements for humans
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For more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Elmer
