Randy Chandler
The idea that the Moon is made of cheese has been a humorous and popular concept in children's literature and popular culture, with references to it being made of green cheese dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. While it is commonly understood that the Moon is not made of cheese, some sources suggest that its surface may be closer in composition to cheese than solid rock. This notion has sparked curiosity and imagination, as seen in various creative works, including a children's book titled The Moon is Made of Blue Cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is the Moon made of blue cheese? | No, it is a myth |
| Origin of the myth | The Proverbs of John Heywood (1546) claimed "the moon is made of a greene cheese." |
| Prevalence | It was the most common explanation among children in a 1902 survey by psychologist G. Stanley Hall. It is also a common theme in children's popular culture. |
| Scientific rebuttals | Theoretical physicist Sean M. Carroll says there is no need to "sample the moon to know it's not made of cheese." The hypothesis is "absurd" and goes against our knowledge of the universe. |
| Similarities to cheese | The moon's surface may be closer to green cheese than solid rock in terms of harmonic signature (seismic velocity of shockwaves). Dr. Thomas Gold also suggests that micrometeorite bombardment would produce a thin layer of finely pulverized material or "dust" on the moon's surface. |
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What You'll Learn
The Moon is made of green cheese in popular culture and children's literature
The idea that the Moon is made of green cheese has persisted for centuries, and it has become a common motif in popular culture and children's literature.
Folklore and Literature
The notion that the Moon is made of green cheese is believed to have originated from a medieval Servian folk tale, in which a hungry wolf is tricked by a fox into believing that the Moon's reflection in a still pond is a wheel of cheese. The wolf then drinks the entire pond and bursts. This tale, recorded by the French rabbi Rashi, has variants across different cultures, including the Zulu, Gascon, Turkish, and Scottish traditions. It is also found in the Aarne-Thompson classification of folktales, where it is known as "The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese" (Type 34) and "The Moon in the Well" (Type 1335A).
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the idea of the Moon being made of green cheese became a popular proverb in English literature, often used to refer to someone who is gullible or credulous. It is believed to have first appeared in John Heywood's "The Proverbs of John Heywood" in 1546. A variation of this proverb, "to make one believe the Moon is made of green cheese," can be found in John Wilkins' "The Discovery of a World in the Moone." Similar proverbs exist in other languages, such as the French "Il veut prendre la lune avec les dents" ("He wants to take the moon with his teeth").
Children's Literature and Popular Culture
The Moon being made of cheese is a concept that has captured the imaginations of children for generations. In a 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall, it was found that out of 423 children, 18 five-year-olds thought the Moon was made of cheese. This idea has also made its way into children's popular culture, often with astronomical themes, such as references to the "Man in the Moon."
The concept has also appeared in adult popular culture, including the 1989 film "A Grand Day Out," where Wallace and Gromit travel to the Moon to gather cheese due to a lack of it on a bank holiday. Additionally, the DC comic character Little Cheese (real name Chester Cheese) features a type of cheese found on the Moon by an astronaut.
Despite the persistent notion that the Moon is made of green cheese, theoretical physicist Sean M. Carroll has stated that there is no need to "sample the moon to know it's not made of cheese." He considers the hypothesis absurd and contrary to our knowledge of the universe.
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The Moon's surface may be more like blue cheese than solid rock
The idea that the Moon is made of cheese has been a long-standing myth, with the notion of it being made of green cheese appearing in 16th- and 17th-century English literature. In modern times, the Moon being made of blue cheese has become a popular notion, especially among children. While it may seem absurd, there may be some truth to the idea that the Moon's surface is more like cheese than solid rock.
The Moon's surface has more grit than scientists initially thought, with a thin layer of finely pulverized dust-like material resulting from micrometeorite bombardment. This layer of dust was observed by Apollo 11 astronauts, whose spacesuits and equipment became covered in it. The dust is also said to be added at a rate of about a millimeter every 1,000 years, which is about 10 times faster than previously thought.
The harmonic signature of Moon rock, or the seismic velocity at which shockwaves travel, is said to be closer to green cheese than to any rock on Earth. This has been used to explain the necessity of Cromwell's rule in Bayesian probability, which states that even if something is believed to be impossible, it should still be assigned a small probability to account for new data.
While it is unlikely that the Moon is made entirely of blue cheese, the unique characteristics of its surface may exhibit qualities that are more similar to cheese than solid rock. The Moon's surface is rough, dark, and opaque, and the action of micrometeorites cannot fail to produce at least a thin layer of finely pulverized material. This gives the Moon a texture that could be likened to that of blue cheese, which is known for its gritty, crumbly, and porous nature.
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The Moon's surface has more grit than expected
The notion that the Moon is made of cheese, specifically blue cheese, is a popular myth. This idea has been perpetuated in children's literature and popular culture, often as a humorous conceit. While it is absurd to consider the Moon as a giant hunk of cheese, it is true that the Moon's surface has more grit than expected.
The idea that the Moon is made of cheese dates back to at least the 16th and 17th centuries, when the proverb "the moon is made of green cheese" was commonly used in English literature. This notion persisted into modern times, with a 1902 survey by psychologist G. Stanley Hall finding that, out of 423 children, 18 believed the Moon was made of cheese. The myth has been referenced in various media, including the 1989 film "A Grand Day Out," where the characters Wallace and Gromit travel to the Moon to gather cheese, and a children's book titled "The Moon is Made of Blue Cheese."
The persistence of the cheese myth may be due to the Moon's appearance, which is often likened to a wheel of cheese, and the fact that early observations of the Moon's surface indicated that it had a soft, crumbly texture similar to that of some cheeses. However, as theoretical physicist Sean M. Carroll pointed out, there is no need to "sample the moon to know it's not made of cheese."
Indeed, the Moon's surface is far from being a smooth, creamy expanse. The action of micrometeorites on the lunar surface creates a layer of finely pulverized material, giving the Moon a gritty texture. This lunar dust is so prevalent that it covered the spacesuits and equipment of the Apollo 11 astronauts when they landed on the Moon. In fact, the Moon's surface has more grit than scientists initially expected, as recent research has shown that lunar dust accumulates about ten times faster than previously thought, with about a millimeter of dust added every 1,000 years.
While the Moon's surface may have more grit than expected, it is certainly not the smooth, creamy texture often associated with blue cheese. The idea that the Moon is made of cheese remains a whimsical myth, providing entertainment and sparking curiosity about our celestial neighbor.
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The Moon is made of cheese in a DC comic
The idea of the Moon being made of cheese has been a popular concept in Western culture for centuries, appearing in folklore, literature, comics, and films. This notion is especially prevalent in stories aimed at children, perhaps due to its whimsical and imaginative nature. One notable example of this idea in popular culture is the DC comic featuring a character named Little Cheese (real name Chester Cheese).
In the DC comic, an astronaut discovers a type of cheese on the Moon, which ties into the long-standing myth. The comic taps into the imaginative possibilities that arise from the notion of the Moon being made of cheese, a concept that has captivated people's imaginations for generations.
The Moon-as-cheese trope has appeared in various forms of media, including other comics such as "Sketchplanations," Raggedy Ann, and Felix the Cat. The idea has also been explored in films like "A Grand Day Out," featuring Wallace and Gromit, who travel to the Moon to gather cheese due to a shortage at home.
The Moon-made-of-cheese concept has its roots in folklore and literature dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of this idea is found in John Heywood's "The Proverbs of John Heywood" from 1546, where he claims, "the moon is made of a greene cheese." This notion of "green cheese" has been interpreted in various ways, with some suggesting that "greene" refers not to the color but to the cheese being new or unaged.
Over the centuries, the Moon-made-of-cheese trope has persisted and evolved, capturing the imaginations of both children and adults. While it is undoubtedly a fanciful idea, it has provided a rich source of creative inspiration for storytellers, artists, and comedians alike.
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Children commonly believe the Moon is made of cheese
The belief that the Moon is made of cheese has a long history, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries when it was a common proverb in English literature. The idea was likely first mentioned in 1546 by John Heywood in "The Proverbs of John Heywood," where he claimed, "the moon is made of a greene cheese." This notion was further perpetuated by John Wilkins' book "The Discovery of a World in the Moone", which referenced tricking someone into believing the Moon was made of green cheese.
The association between the Moon and cheese has persisted into modern times, with a 1902 survey by psychologist G. Stanley Hall finding that out of 423 children, 18 five-year-olds believed the Moon was made of cheese. This idea has been further fuelled by the moon's appearance, with some suggesting that its surface resembles green or blue cheese more than solid rock. Dr Thomas Gold, director of the Center for Radiophysics and Space Research at Cornell University, has even speculated that the action of micrometeorites on the moon's surface creates a thin layer of finely pulverised material, giving it a cheese-like texture.
While the idea of the Moon being made of cheese is humorous and entertaining, it is important to note that it is just a myth. Theoretical physicist Sean M. Carroll has stated that there is no need to sample the Moon to know that it is not made of cheese, as this hypothesis contradicts our understanding of the universe. Nonetheless, the myth of the Moon being made of cheese continues to capture the imagination of children and adults alike, often serving as a lighthearted reference in popular culture.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the moon is not made of blue cheese. This is a common misconception and has been addressed by scientists.
The idea of the moon being made of cheese has appeared as a humorous conceit in much of children's popular culture and in adult references. The notion is also supported by the fact that the harmonic signature of moon rock is said to be closer to green cheese than to any rock on Earth.
The moon's surface is covered in a layer of finely pulverized material like dust, which is a result of micrometeorite bombardment.
