Has the moon entered a new era under the influence of humans?

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The term “the Anthropocene” or “the era of human influence” denotes a suggested geological epoch marking the onset of significant human impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems. Human presence and expansion have unmistakably altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere, oceans, and soil.

Additionally, human activities on Earth have propelled climate change, triggering a widespread extinction of life forms at rates thousands of times higher than the historical average, recognized as the “sixth extinction.” Unlike the previous five natural extinctions, this one is attributed to human actions.

According to Al Jazeera.net, researchers propose that the Anthropocene began with the Neolithic revolution 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, although ongoing debates persist among scientists on this timeline.

A team of scientists from the University of Kansas contemplates extending the same concept to the Moon, introducing the term “the Lunar Anthropocene.” This epoch supposedly commenced with the eruption of the first lunar dust on September 13, 1959, when the Soviet Union’s unmanned spacecraft (Luna 2) landed on the Moon. Subsequently, numerous human missions and over 100 man-made vehicles have landed on the lunar surface, either successfully or resulting in crashes.

Contrary to previous beliefs, the lunar environment is not static. The study suggests that scientists should reconsider the assumption of lunar constancy, recognizing that humans have become the dominant force shaping the lunar environment. Notably, human activities, such as the movement of lunar regolith, once attributed to meteor strikes, are now primarily driven by human vehicles.

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