← 18 October 2026's Current Affairs · Science & Tech GA Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
Study finds more than 10,000 young faults on the shrinking Moon
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
The Moon is shrinking, with 10,000+ young faults: the lobate scarp concept GS-III Science questions can test
Over 10,000 young faults indicate the Moon is still contracting as its interior cools.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
A study published on 14 October 2026 in The Planetary Science Journal, led by Thomas R.
Watters, identified more than 10,000 young faults across the Moon.
Such thrust faults and lobate scarps are signs that the Moon has been contracting slowly as its interior cools.
The finding bears on hazard assessment for future lunar landing sites.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- A study published on 14 October 2026 in The Planetary Science Journal, led by Thomas R. Watters, identified more than 10,000 young faults on the Moon.
- The faults are thrust faults and lobate scarps, landforms created by compressional stress.
- They indicate the Moon is slowly contracting as its interior cools.
- The finding bears on hazard assessment for future lunar landing sites.
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- Statement: Lobate scarps on the Moon are landforms formed by compression of the crust, linked to global contraction as the interior cools. (Correct)
- Statement: Thrust faults on the Moon are chiefly caused by Earth-like plate tectonics. (Incorrect; the Moon has no active plate tectonics.)
- Statement: Young lunar faults are relevant for assessing seismic hazards at proposed landing sites. (Correct)
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS-III (Science and Technology; space): Evidence of a still-contracting Moon shows that lunar geology remains active, with faults capable of moonquakes. Such findings should feed site selection and engineering safety for missions like Chandrayaan and the Artemis programme. The way forward is better seismic monitoring, high-resolution mapping and international sharing of lunar hazard data.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Thousands of young thrust faults and lobate scarps have been mapped on the Moon's surface. They are chiefly attributed to:
- Slow contraction of the Moon as its interior cools
- Expansion of the lunar crust due to solar heating
- Plate tectonics similar to that on Earth
- Volcanic eruptions in the lunar maria
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: A — The correct answer is slow contraction of the Moon as its interior cools, which shrinks the lunar globe and pushes crustal blocks up along thrust faults.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ