Moon's Glass Beads May Hold 330 Billion Tons of Water, Chinese Rover Finds
Chinese researchers have discovered small glass beads on the Moon's surface that contain water, estimating that up to 330 billion tons of water could be embedded in the lunar surface. The beads are formed when meteorites hit the Moon, heating silicate minerals to melting temperatures, creating the glass spherules. The beads are evenly distributed across the lunar surface and act as natural reservoirs that are refilled over time. Future lunar explorations may benefit from this discovery as the collected water can be used for drinking or as rocket fuel.