Lava tubes present on Mars, Earth, & Moon can be potential safe habitats

re is evidence that Earth, Mars, and Moon have lava tubes. lava tubes were inferred by studying linear cavities and sinuous collapse chains where galleries cracked. However, lately, scientists studied subsurface cavities that lava created underground on Mars and moon and y revealed that y are so big that entire cities could fit inside Moon’s lava tubes.

What is a lava tube?

Formed by an intense flow of molten rock, a lava tube is a tunnel under a planet or a celestial body’s surface. It is formed during a volcanic explosion. y can be spotted on Earth most easily when y collapse because of which y form long furrows in dirt.

Researchers believe that re is a possibility that lava tubes might have existed on Mars and moon since 1960s. However, in recent years, home ims from mars and Moon have shown that formations of lava tubes are very common. In a new paper published on July 20 in journal Earth Science Reviews, scientists argue that it is time to explore lava tubes earnestly.

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lava tubes present on Earth are gigantic and might offer safer habitat than ones present on surfaces of Mars and moon. co-author of study of lava tubes on earth, Riccardo Pozzobon, who is a geoscientist at University of Padova, Italy said in a statement, " largest lava tubes on Earth are maximum [about] 40 meters [130 feet] of width and height. So like a very large motorway tunnel". Researchers believe that se lava tubes are big eugh for people to fit inside.

(Im credit: University of Bologna)

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However, on Mars, collapsed lava tubes tend to be 80 times bigger than that on Earth. It is estimated to be of diameters of 130 to 1300 feet. Pozzobon, a geoscientist at University of Padova, told LiveScience that it is also believed that lava tubes present on moon could fit in a small city within its walls. Reportedly, Lava tubes appeal as potential habitats because y can protect from meteors that do t burn as easily in thin atmospheres of Mars and moon. Lava Tubes are likely to contain useful chemicals like water ice and volatile chemicals, which can be used to make fuel. 

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Promo im: ESA.int website