{
  "id": 7588307,
  "title": "The moon may have enough power for massive cities. There’s just one problem",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/the-moon-may-have-enough-power-for-massive-cities-theres-just-one",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-15T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91606928/the-moon-may-have-enough-power-for-massive-cities-theres-just-one-problem"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists have discovered a vast reserve of ice on the moon's far side, but experts warn that it may not be enough to sustain a large-scale human settlement. Moon colonies have long been a staple of science fiction, but governments and private companies are now racing to turn these dreams into a reality. However, the main challenge lies in managing resources, particularly water, which is scarce on the moon. The moon is \"100 times drier than the Sahara,\" making water a vital resource for any future lunar colony. While current estimates suggest that the moon's permanently shadowed areas could hold up to 1 billion tons of water, this may not be enough to build a proper moon metropolis. In a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Space Technologies, astronomers Martin Elvis and Jonathan McDowell examined how much water would be required for a large-scale human civilization on the moon to thrive. Their analysis assumed a \"generous baseline\" of 1 billion tons of water, which is far more than the estimated amount of frozen water on the moon before 2013. This volume of water could fill an area the size of Manhattan's Central Park to a depth far taller than the Statue of Liberty. However, the researchers found that even this massive amount of water would not be sufficient to support a large population for an extended period. Recycling water is essential, but current technologies can only reuse about 94% to 98% of the water, depending on the system. For a city of 1 million people, a billion tons of water would last only 40 years, while a city of 100,000 people would take around 1,000 years to exhaust its water supply. To sustain a larger population, significant advancements in water recycling technology would be needed. The researchers estimate that water recycling systems would need to be 10 times more efficient than current systems for a city of 1 million people to last 1,000 years. Other solutions, such as vertical farming, a low or no-meat diet, and importing water from other sources, could help reduce water consumption, but they would also require considerable planning and investment. Ultimately, the researchers emphasize that any hope for a future moon city will require careful planning and responsible stewardship of the lunar ice that we already know exists. They urge humanity to adopt a \"first come, first served\" approach to water extraction and use to ensure the long-term sustainability of a lunar settlement.",
  "summary": "There’s a sea of ice lurking on the dark side of the moon, but even that may not be enough to quench the thirst of a future lunar colony. Moon colonies have long been fodder for science fiction, but governments and private companies are racing now to make those extraplanetary dreams a reality. The main catch? Like the plot of every good hard sci-fi tale of humans in space, success hinges on the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}