In this enlightening discussion, Prof Sara Russell, a planetary science expert from the Natural History Museum, Prof Neil Comins, an astrophysicist known for his work on the Moon's impact, and Prof Katarina Miljkovic, a planetary collisions researcher, dive into the Moon’s critical role in shaping Earth. They explore fascinating hypotheticals: life without the Moon, the effects of potential dual moons, and the geological contrasts between the two bodies. Their insights reveal how the Moon's presence governs tides, inspires exploration, and preserves cosmic history.
The moon's gravitational influence regulates Earth's tides and biological rhythms, playing a crucial role in the evolution of life.
The moon serves as a historical record of cosmic impacts, providing insights into solar system history that Earth’s dynamic surface erases.
Deep dives
The Moon's Influence on Earth
The moon plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's tides, due to the gravitational pull it exerts. As Earth rotates, its gravitational forces interact with the moon’s gravity, pulling the moon forward in its orbit, leading to gradual distance increase between the two bodies. This slow movement impacts Earth’s rotation, implying that if the moon were to disappear, it would cause significant alterations like catastrophic tidal waves and geological disruptions. It's estimated that the moon's distance from Earth will continue to increase gradually, but this process spans billions of years and is not an immediate concern.
The Importance of the Moon for Life
Having a moon significantly affects life on Earth, particularly through its role in exposing life to tidal movements which facilitate nutrient mixing in oceans. The absence of the moon would mean a dramatically shorter day, ranging from six to eight hours when Earth first formed, which could have inhibited the evolutionary processes that led to life. Furthermore, the synchronization of biological rhythms, including human sleep cycles, would also differ without the moon's influence, potentially affecting societal development and interests in space exploration. The cultural significance of the moon throughout history indicates its deep connection to human curiosity and mythology.
The Moon's Scarred Surface vs. Earth's Geology
The moon's surface is marked by numerous craters that serve as a historical record of impacts over billions of years, while Earth's dynamic geological processes, such as erosion and volcanism, have erased much of its impact history. Although Earth has also endured multiple impacts, its active geological state has kept its craters and geological records from accumulating as they have on the moon. The investigation of the moon's surface allows scientists to study the history of our solar system and understand early Earth conditions. The preservation of tectonic features on the moon offers unique insights that Earth's constantly changing surface cannot provide.
The Moon has always sparked human curiosity. It governs the tides and biological rhythms. It’s inspired myths and stories. It’s inspired us to reach out and explore it. And it's certainly inspired CrowdScience listeners, who have sent us a host of questions about it. And in a special lunar-themed episode we’ve brought together a panel of astronomers and planetary scientists to help answer them.
What would life be like if there was no Moon? Would there even be life? Or what if we had two moons? Are the Moon and Earth equally battered by meteors? What would happen if an asteroid collided with the Moon? And could the Moon ever escape Earth’s gravity?
Anand Jagatia is joined by Prof Sara Russell, Head of the Planetary Materials Group at the Natural History Museum in London; Prof Neil Comins from the University of Maine, author of the book What if the Moon didn’t Exist?; and Prof Katarina Miljkovic from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
Presenter: Anand Jagatia
Producer: Jeremy Grange
Editor: Cathy Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano
Studio Manager: Andrew Garratt
(Photo: Landscape with the rising of the full moon during the golden hour Credit: Jose A. Bernat Bacete via Getty Images)
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode