"Shrinking Moon Triggers Powerful Quakes, Threatening Lunar Colonization"

The moon is slowly shrinking due to its cooling interior and Earth's gravitational influence, causing significant lunar tremors known as "moonquakes" that could pose a seismic hazard to future human colonists, particularly near the lunar south pole. These moonquakes are a result of the moon's gradual decrease in size, and could potentially cause strong ground shaking and landslides, posing a threat to lunar settlements. Future lunar bases may need to be strategically located or designed to withstand such events, similar to earthquake-resistant structures on Earth. While the severity of the threat posed by moonquakes is still debated, preparing for potential lunar seismic activity is crucial for the safety of astronauts and infrastructure during future missions, such as NASA's Artemis mission.
- The moon is slowly shrinking — and it's triggering powerful moonquakes that could derail lunar colonization ZME Science
- Scientists think our shrinking moon is causing concerning lunar quakes The Washington Post
- Moon's serene facade is hiding a turbulent reality, reveals NASA-funded research WION
- Don’t shoot for it: shrinking moon sees hours-long quakes and landslides The Guardian
- The Moon Is Shrinking, Causing Moonquakes at a Potential NASA Landing Site, Study Finds Smithsonian Magazine
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