Mysterious ‘lunar swirls’ that perplexed scientists for decades may be close to an explanation

New topographic maps of the moon may help to explain the mysterious bright “swirls” decorating the lunar surface, which have perplexed scientists for decades.

Lunar swirls are areas of contrasting light and dark streaks spread across the moon’s surface, and they occur on all types of terrain, from visibly dark patches known as mare to the brighter highlands. Now, contrary to what scientists previously thought, new evidence published recently in The Planetary Science Journal suggests that lunar swirls are, in fact, correlated with topography, meaning the bright markings occur at different…