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B. W. Hapke (University of Pittsburgh)
Lunar soils consist essentially of ground-up mafic rocks. However, if a lunar rock is pulverized, the resulting powder is much lighter than soil from the same site. It is important to understand this space weathering process because it alters the albedo and spectrum of the regolith and obscures the characteristic absorption bands that allow planetary scientists to remotely infer the compositions of the moon, Mercury and the asteroids. The solution of this puzzle is a scientific detective story that lasted over 30 years and involved conflicting research results, false leads and contentious debate. As was the case with the debate over continental drift, the final resolution required an experimental breakthrough using new technology.