U.S. Explores New Methods for Lunar Ice Detection Using Synchrotron X-ray Microtomography and Seismic Models
On July 31, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaii, proposed a new method for locating subsurface ice deposits on the Moon using seismic waves. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, are expected to provide a reference for interpreting detection data and locating water resources in future lunar landing missions. The research focuses on how subsurface lunar materials respond to seismic waves. The team developed computational models to predict the behavior of lunar subsurface media of varying compositions under seismic wave excitation. Experimental results showed differences in seismic response between ice-bearing and dry rocks, indicating that seismological methods have the potential to identify ice layers buried beneath lunar regolith and rock.
2026-08-01
