Lunar dust may hold records of ancient supernova explosions

Researchers have developed a new mathematical model to analyze lunar dust, which may contain cosmic records of supernova explosions occurring millions of years ago. Because the Moon lacks wind, rain, or tectonic activity, its surface is primarily altered by 'impact gardening'—the process where meteor and asteroid impacts mix and bury material.

Led by Emily Costello of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the study involved collaborators from King’s College London, the University of Illinois, the University of Notre Dame, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The model accounts for various factors, including soil compaction, radioactive decay, and space environment exposure, to help scientists determine when interstellar material arrived on the lunar surface.

A key indicator used in the research is iron-60, a radioactive isotope linked to massive stars and supernovae. Previous findings identified two major influxes of this material approximately 2.3 million and 7.3 million years ago.