The Standard Model of particle physics says that protons are stable and live forever, yet it has some flaws, particularly in the coupling of quantum mechanics with Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which describes gravity.
The proton decay hypothesis was first described by Andrei Sakharov in 1967, but despite experimental efforts, all avenues to find evidence on Earth have failed. Patrick Stengel of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics in Ferrara, Italy, therefore proposes with his colleagues to dig a 5 kilometer deep hole into the Moon to look for signs of ancient protons decaying into kaons.
Patrick Stengel of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics in Ferrara, Italy, suggests digging deep into the Moon to look for signs of ancient protons decaying into kaons.
Image: International Space Station
Image credit: ESA
Image credit: NASA
Image credit: NASA
Stengel believes that the moon rock could be evidence of such decay in chemical changes in its mineral structure. Being hidden deep below the surface of the Moon would create a protective shield and also mean that such evidence would not be confused with similar reactions caused by things like high-energy neutrinos.
After their calculations, the scientific team found that the shielding would be enough at least 5 kilometers below the lunar surface. In this case, a powerful drill would have to be sent to the moon to retrieve the sample. What is important to mention is that drilling can go much deeper than the Earth; for example, the super-deep Kola well in Russia is sinking more than 12 kilometers.
Image credits: @daryavaseum
Image credits: @daryavaseum
“The idea is fundamentally appealing,” said David Waters, professor of physics at University College London. “Instead of having detectors that weigh thousands of tons and run them for several years, you look at small samples of minerals, maybe only tens or hundreds of grams, and they could record the interactions of particles in their structure for hundreds of millions of years. .”
However, the rock sample would have to be analyzed on the Moon using advanced microscopic equipment, as transport of the sample to Earth could affect it with cosmic rays. “That idea is very speculative. You have to go 5 kilometers deep, pull out moon rocks and use these cutting-edge microscopic techniques – all of that is very difficult,” Stengel shared his thoughts.
Despite all the technical difficulties, access to just 100 grams of moon rock could be enough to find evidence of proton decay with as much or even greater sensitivity than Earth-based projects such as the Super-Kamiokande neutrino detection experiment in Japan. This research experiment, together with about 40 universities and research institutes around the world, aims to clarify the mystery of the universe and matter through the observation of neutrinos.
Moon rock samples from the lunar depths could provide an opportunity to see if protons can decay into something else
Image: International Space Station
Image credit: NASA
Image credit: ESA
Our physical exploration of the Moon began in 1959 with the Luna 2 space probe launched by the Soviet Union. Prior to this, the only survey available was conducted only with observations from Earth.
Galileo Galilei is considered to be the first person to use a telescope for astronomical purposes. In 1609 he made his own telescope and the lunar surface was one of his first observations using it.
Nowadays, thanks to rapidly developing technology, there are many people taking detailed photos of the surface of the moon, but photographer Darya Kawa Mirza, better known on social media as @daryavaseum, is definitely among the most famous.
The 30-year-old astrophotographer lives in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
“I have been obsessed with photography since I was a child and I got my first camera. I start taking pictures of everything: the moon, the landscape… Until 2007, when my dad bought me a digital camera,” Darya revealed in an interview with Bored Panda.
“Day by day I learned all the basics and important things about the camera, and after a few years my knowledge expanded so much that I bought more advanced photography equipment in 2014,” said the astrophotographer.
When asked how he started taking such detailed photos of the Moon, Darja answered that it happened completely by accident. “I was always curious about the sky, but the turning point was when I discovered binoculars. I ordered a small one for myself and that’s how it all started,” he said.
Darja told us that the entire photo shoot process can take several hours to several days. “For example, my last picture of the moon took me 4 days of continuous shooting,” he explained.
“The moon has always been special to me, not only because sometimes it can be really challenging to photograph, but also because through my photography I can bring it closer to all the people who share the same deep love for the brightest and brightest. the largest object in our night sky,” said Darja, mentioning that he would also like to capture Saturn and Jupiter in the future.
Image credits: @daryavaseum
Image credits: @daryavaseum
Image credits: @daryavaseum
As ESA’s Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, Franco Ongaro, beautifully put it: “If space is an ocean, then the Moon is our closest island,” the one humans last visited in 1972 with the 17th Apollo mission.
And who knows, maybe the next manned mission to the moon will find evidence of protons decaying into something else and finally resolve the conflict between physics theories we’ve had for decades.
People on the Internet shared their excitement about new possible discoveries on the moon