China discovers unknown mineral on the moon, names it Changesite-(Y)
- Reference: 1662961127
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/09/12/china_discovers_new_mineral_on/
- Source link:
The mineral, dubbed "Changesite-(Y)", was named after Chang’e – a moon goddess in Chinese mythology and the namesake of the Chang’e-5 mission that retrieved a sample of lunar dust in 2020.
China's sample weighed about 1.73kg (3.8lbs) on Earth. It was collected from both the surface of the Moon and about 6.5 meters beneath the surface in an area thought to have been the site of volcanic activity. The loot was shared among 33 research organizations.
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A joint [2]announcement from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) described the samples as "a phosphate mineral in the form of columnar crystals found in lunar basalt particles."
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The crystal structure was separated and examined through x-ray diffraction by researchers at the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). They found a single crystal particle among the 140,000 lunar sample particles with a diameter of about 10 microns.
The metaphorical needle in a haystack was a crystal that, [5]according to state sponsored media , was one-tenth the size of a human hair. If you prefer The Register [6]unit standards , that's one millionth of a linguine.
[7]NASA just weeks away from trying again with SLS Moon rocket launch
[8]FBI and MI5 bosses: China cheats and steals at massive scale
[9]Chinese booster rocket tumbles back to Earth: 'Non-zero' chance of hitting populated area
[10]NASA sees our space future as both government and privately run
Unobserved minerals have previously been found on the Moon by both the United States and Russia. Changesite–(Y) is the sixth discovered lunar mineral, and has received approval from the organization that oversees such discoveries – the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. Not, as you may have thought, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
China's sample has also been measured for concentration of Helium-3.
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Finding Helium-3 on the Moon is not ground-breaking news: it's long been known to exist on Luna's surface in greater abundance than down here on Earth where it is extremely rare. But what seems to excite the researchers is assessing its potential as a future fusion energy source – it's capable of releasing large amounts of energy without making the surrounding material radioactive.
The highly valuable gas is also extremely useful for cooling quantum machines.
CNSA and CAEA said it "adhered to the concept of peaceful use of space and peaceful use of nuclear energy," as it continued to work on integrating the two technologies.
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The two orgs also declared that "as the competent government departments in the field of aerospace and nuclear in China" the duo were making simultaneous contributions to scientific discoveries and international cooperation.
But how international cooperation plays out remains to be seen in an increasingly tense geopolitical climate. The UK's Imperial College has [13]reportedly decided to shut down two Chinese-sponsored aerospace research centers after warnings they could unintentionally aid the Chinese military.
Organizations like MI5 and the FBI have frequently issued [14]warnings of Chinese espionage and the CCP's strong long game.
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[2] http://www.caea.gov.cn/n6760338/n6760342/c6840840/content.html
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[5] https://english.news.cn/20220909/4303686ad0ad4b4e876c015ec7d80a4d/c.html
[6] https://www.theregister.com/Design/page/reg-standards-converter.html
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/09/nasa_sls_launch/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/07/fbi_and_mi5_china_warning/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/27/long_march_5b_returns/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/04/nasa_spacex/
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[13] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/11/imperial-college-to-shut-joint-research-ventures-with-chinese-defence-firms
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/07/fbi_and_mi5_china_warning/
[15] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Curly -- or Straight?
I'm fairly sure that the Linguine unit refers to the length rather than the width of the fundamental pasta particles. The other dimensions of the particle are ill-defined.
The dangerous practice of of 'splitting the Linguine' (for example, when feeding children) can cause serious leaks of the sauce and consequent irreversible changes to tablecloths.
Re: Curly -- or Straight?
Interestingly (?) some human hairs are elliptical.
The roundness (or not) of human hair is what defines how curly it is. The rounder a strand of hair is, the straighter it is. For example, Asian hair is generally very round and uniform in shape, while African hair is much flatter by comparison.
The Genie's out of the Lamp and Exploring the Delights of Pandora's Open Box
Organizations like MI5 and the FBI frequently issue warnings of Chinese espionage and the CCP's strong long game to encourage further invention of absolutely fabulous speculation justifying their raison d'être for continued existence and financing/fiat money supply for global disbursement and product purchase/proprietary intellectual property capture.
Such a methodology though has many able to copy it and thus be they equally well equipped to successfully capture and enjoy the employment and deployment of a leading overwhelmingly almighty powerful advantage which ideally delivers free reign and indisputable dominion over all others whenever such is available and on offer.
However, a major self-destructive problem arises and expands exponentially then whenever the warnings issued are more recognised to be fake news for further future program conversion with media preparations and presentations of intricate fabricated perceptions for public acceptance as profound metadatabased physicalised realities by those targeted ...... for more than one can play that Greater IntelAIgent Game.
Would you like to deny that is a current available live running virtualising reality for capture and enjoyment and employment and deployment/payment and purchase?
Re: The Genie's out of the Lamp and Exploring the Delights of Pandora's Open Box
amanfrommars never has, and never will, pass the Turing Test. Which is odd for someone whom I believe to be an actual human. Always fun to read though.
Weight
> China's sample weighed about 1.73kg (3.8lbs) on Earth.
Acknowledges weight differs between the Earth and Moon. Uses unit of mass...?
Re: Weight
By an interesting coincidence, it weighed 1.73 kg on the Moon as well.
Re: Weight
No, technically it 'massed' 1.73 kg on the Moon as well, since kg is the SI unit of mass.
The term 'weighed', as used by most people, is under the assumption that the weighing takes place under the conditions of 1g (one Earth gravity). When you weigh something you should be measuring in Newtons.
Changesite - that's a name that calls out for an accent - change site?
> The highly valuable gas is also extremely useful for cooling quantum machines.
That is any Helium. You do not need Helium 3 for that.
Helium-3 vs. Helium-4
You can get to lower temperatures with Helium-3. Our cryostat would get to 1.2K with He-4, but down to 300mK with the He-3 insert. That might be useful for lower noise in quantum measurements.
Curly -- or Straight?
"Linguine" is plural, so the unit should be the "Linguina".
They are also elliptical, so should only really be a unit for elliptical things. Interestingly (?) some human hairs are elliptical.