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"Simulated Moon Dust Kills Cells and Alters DNA, " Topic


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Tango0107 May 2018 10:06 p.m. PST

…., Signaling Trouble for Future Lunar Colonists

"Astronauts hoping stay on the moon long-term missions have another reason to worry about moon dust: It could be quite harmful if inhaled, as demonstrated in a new study.

We've long known that moon dust could cause trouble. During the Apollo missions, astronauts complained of sneezing and watery eyes after tracking dust from their spacesuits back into their ships. Scientists need to take moon dust and rocks into account when designing lunar landing equipment, because it sticks to everything.

No mice or humans were sent to the moon for this new study. Instead, scientists grew both human cells and mouse cells in the lab, and exposed both to a simulated lunar dust. In both cases, the moon dust could kill the cell or damage the cells' DNA…."
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Armand

Bowman08 May 2018 5:53 a.m. PST

I think the Americans should rush back, collect more moon-dust, and weaponize it, before the Chinese do. wink

mad monkey 108 May 2018 6:40 a.m. PST

Don't give'm ideas….

Patrick R08 May 2018 7:04 a.m. PST

Lots of things commonly found in a house will kill cells in a petri dish. Doesn't mean that house is a particular hazard.

Moon dust however is nasty stuff, its like dust that was crossbred with sandpaper, glass shards and razorblades. It's likely that even low levels of exposure to the fine dust could cause lung damage similar to asbestos and mesothelioma.

Because it is extremely abrasive anything that comes into contact for an extended period of time (tools, wheels, boots etc) will wear out very quickly.

Annakin Skywalker would probably freak out as the stuff gets everywhere, it's nasty and can cause skin conditions and it takes forever to get it off.

Long term exposure might mean premature aging of the skin, damage to the eyes, lenses, mucous membranes, the aforementioned damage to lungs etc.

Bowman08 May 2018 7:48 a.m. PST

+1 Patrick.

zoneofcontrol08 May 2018 8:49 a.m. PST

Just imagine if they got some of it in their bathing suits. It would take all the speed out of your Speedo.

Bowman08 May 2018 8:54 a.m. PST

Moon chafing!

Cacique Caribe08 May 2018 6:41 p.m. PST

Alters DNA? So the Selenites might have started as something else entirely, like water bears (tardigrades)?

Dan

Martin From Canada08 May 2018 8:11 p.m. PST

So moon mesothelioma?

Personal logo Parzival Supporting Member of TMP09 May 2018 10:20 a.m. PST

And yet, Buzz Aldrin is still here, doing well, and cold-cocking hoaxer nutjobs half his age. So we have one human specimen exposed to the real stuff who's fine and dandy, thank you very much. And the others, even those no longer with us, don't seem to have been negatively effected in the long term.

Honestly, I'm not worried about this.

Bowman09 May 2018 11:41 a.m. PST

To be fair, all the astronauts that spent time on the Moon showed some minor upper respiratory effects from the dust. These symptoms disappeared quickly upon return to Earth. It's not out of the question to be concerned if a permanent Moon base is being considered. At the very least, researchers want samples of the Moon dust for further study. I'm not worried either but it's best to consider all the possibilities, right?

Gunfreak Supporting Member of TMP09 May 2018 1:07 p.m. PST

They are going to use space suits I assume.

If you got a nice "big" moon base. Simply have a powerful fan in the airlock and a powerful intake that sucks out all the moon dust from the suit. This will lead to minimum exposure.

Bowman09 May 2018 2:54 p.m. PST

Or high pressure wash. Water that will be filtered and recycled. Too precious otherwise. Now just think how complex you have to make an entrance way just to deal with this.

Martin From Canada09 May 2018 7:45 p.m. PST

They are going to use space suits I assume.

Or back entry space suits to minimize the amount of dust entering the hab.

Bowman10 May 2018 6:10 a.m. PST

Or back entry space suits to minimize the amount of dust entering the hab.

I've been in one of those, in bio labs. (Wouldn't even fit in one now!). Problem with them is you are on a short tether.

Martin From Canada10 May 2018 12:00 p.m. PST

picture

Bowman10 May 2018 1:28 p.m. PST

Very nice! Love the Rover/suit combination. Mine looked more like this.

but not as nice. I think these are called positive pressure suits. That way if you get a puncture it's difficult to get an outside agent in.

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