Bushra Griffith
The Moon being made of cheese is a popular notion that has persisted for centuries, especially among children. The idea has appeared in various forms of media, from medieval fables to modern films, and has even been the subject of scientific investigation. While it is commonly understood that the Moon does not consist of dairy products, the persistence of this myth and its cultural significance are intriguing aspects to explore. This topic will delve into the origins of the idea, its portrayal in popular culture, and the scientific explanations provided to dispel or support the claim. So, is the Moon made of string cheese? Let's find out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is the Moon made of string cheese? | No |
| Origin of the myth | A medieval Slavic fable about a ravenous wolf chasing a fox |
| Earliest record | 1546 in The Proverbs of John Heywood |
| Commonness of the myth | It was one of the most popular proverbs in 16th- and 17th-century English literature |
| Scientific evidence | Moon rocks' seismic velocities differ significantly from every kind of rock known on Earth |
| Children's beliefs | In a 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall in the United States, the most common explanation for the Moon's composition among children was cheese |
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What You'll Learn
The Moon's reflection mistaken for cheese
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a popular notion for centuries, especially among children. While it is commonly known that the moon does not consist of dairy products, the origin of this myth is intriguing and has various explanations.
The earliest record of this idea can be traced to a medieval Slavic fable, which features a hungry wolf chasing a fox. In this tale, the fox tricks the wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese. The wolf drinks all the water, hoping to get the cheese, but eventually bursts due to overconsumption. This fable is classified as "The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese" (Type 34) in the Aarne-Thompson classification of folktales.
The moon-made-of-cheese concept gained further popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in English literature. In 1546, John Heywood's "The Proverbs of John Heywood" included the phrase, "the moon is made of a greene cheese." It is important to note that greene in this context likely referred to the cheese being new or unaged rather than its color. This phrase became a common proverb, often used to refer to someone being gullible or easily fooled.
The notion of the moon being made of cheese has persisted in popular culture, with references in children's programs like "Tom and Jerry" and "Wallace and Gromit." Even NASA played along with the joke on April Fool's Day in 2002, claiming to have "proven" that the moon was made of cheese by releasing a Photoshopped image with an expiration date on one of the craters.
While it is clear that the moon is not made of string cheese or any other type of cheese, the myth has captured the imagination of people for centuries and continues to be a playful part of our cultural references.
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The Moon in the Well
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has persisted for centuries, becoming a humorous conceit in children's popular culture and a recurring joke in adult references. It is often used to refer to human gullibility, as in this 1638 quote from English natural philosopher John Wilkins: "you may… soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese, (as we say)".
The notion has been perpetuated by its inclusion in children's media, such as Tom and Jerry, and Wallace and Gromit, who even taste the moon in their first adventure, "A Grand Day Out". On April Fool's Day 2002, NASA also played a prank, claiming to have "proven" the moon was made of cheese by releasing a Photoshopped image with an expiration date on one of the craters.
Despite the pervasive idea, the scientific community has never supported the claim. Theoretical physicist Sean M. Carroll stated that there is no need to "sample the moon to know it's not made of cheese", as the hypothesis goes against our knowledge of the universe. However, some have pointed out that the harmonic signature of moon rock, or the seismic velocity at which shockwaves travel, is closer to green cheese than to any rock on Earth.
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Moon rock seismic velocity
The Moon is not made of string cheese, as is evident from the various Apollo missions that have collected hundreds of kilograms of Moon rock. The idea of the Moon being made of cheese has been a long-standing myth, often referenced in popular culture, including children's shows like Tom and Jerry and Wallace and Gromit, and even in an April Fool's joke by NASA. The earliest record of this myth comes from a medieval Slavic fable about a fox and a wolf, with the first written record appearing in 1546 in The Proverbs of John Heywood.
Now, coming to the topic of Moon rock seismic velocity, the Moon's seismic velocity is known primarily from seismic records obtained by the Apollo missions' Passive Seismic Experiment (PSE) stations. Between 1969 and 1972, five PSE stations were deployed on the lunar surface, with four remaining operational until 1977. These stations recorded over 13,000 seismic events, and analysis of this data has revealed four types of moonquakes: shallow, deep, thermal, and those caused by meteoroid impacts.
The Moon's seismic velocity varies within its roughly 60 km thick crust, with a low velocity of 100 m/s at the surface due to the loose, porous nature of the regolith. As depth increases, velocity readings also increase, reaching 4 km/s at 5 km depth, and 6 km/s at 25 km depth. At this depth, a discontinuity is observed, where seismic velocity abruptly increases to 7 km/s, likely due to the presence of dense, sealed anorthosite and gabbro layers, indicating a crust with hydrostatic pressure.
The Moon's geothermal gradient minimally reduces velocities by 0.1-0.2 km/s. Analysis of moonquake waveforms suggests that seismic wave velocities in the upper mantle exhibit a minor negative gradient, with S-wave speeds decreasing. The sharp decline in P-wave velocity at the mantle-core boundary suggests the presence of a liquid outer core, with velocities dropping from 7.7 km/s in the mantle to 4 km/s in the outer core. This liquid outer core is believed to account for 1-3% of the Moon's total mass, with the entire core constituting about 15-25% of the lunar mass.
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Children's belief
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a popular notion among children for centuries. While it is commonly known that the moon does not consist of dairy products, the whimsical concept has persisted and evolved over time, capturing the imaginations of young minds.
The earliest recorded mention of the moon-as-cheese idea can be traced back to a medieval Slavic fable, in which a cunning fox tricks a hungry wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a floating block of cheese. This tale, known as "The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese," sets the stage for the enduring association between the moon and cheese.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the notion gained further traction through its appearance in English literature, particularly in the works of John Heywood, who famously stated, "the moon is made of greene cheese." It is important to note that greene in this context likely referred to the cheese's age or newness rather than its color. This phrase became a popular proverb, often used to jokingly highlight human gullibility.
The concept of the moon being made of cheese has since been featured in various forms of media, including children's programs such as "Tom and Jerry" and "Wallace and Gromit." The popularity of these shows has undoubtedly contributed to the spread and longevity of the idea among young audiences.
Even NASA has played along with the joke. On April Fool's Day in 2002, they released a Photoshopped image of the moon with an expiration date printed on one of its craters, claiming to have "proven" that the moon was indeed made of cheese.
While it is safe to assume that most children do not genuinely believe that the moon is made of cheese, the idea continues to captivate their imaginations. It sparks curiosity, creativity, and a playful approach to learning about the world around them.
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Medieval folklore
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a part of folklore for a long time, with the earliest record of this notion stemming from a medieval Slavic fable. In this tale, a hungry wolf chases a fox, hoping to catch and eat it. The fox, however, outsmarts the wolf by convincing him that the moon's reflection on a pond is a floating block of cheese. The wolf is persuaded and attempts to drink all the water to get to the cheese, but he ends up drinking too much and bursts, allowing the fox to escape. This story has been retold and reimagined across various cultures, often carrying a moral of brains over brawn.
The "moon is made of cheese" motif is also found in other medieval folklore. One example is the Servian tale where the fox leads the wolf to believe that the moon's reflection in the water is cheese, causing the wolf to try to drink the water and burst. There is also a Gascon tale about a peasant watering his donkey on a moonlit night, who thinks that the donkey has drunk the moon when a cloud obscures it. In another Turkish tale, Khoja Nasru-'d-Din believes the moon has fallen into a well and tries to pull it out with a rope and chain.
The phrase "the moon is made of green cheese" appears in the 1546 book "The Proverbs of John Heywood," a collection of humorous and well-known sayings. Heywood's statement was not meant to be taken literally but as a joke about human gullibility. This idea is further supported by English natural philosopher John Wilkins, who wrote in 1638 that believing the moon is made of green cheese is a sign of ignorance and credulity.
The "moon is made of cheese" notion has persisted in popular culture, often as a joke or a reference to folklore. It has been featured in children's shows like "DuckTales," "Tom and Jerry," and "Wallace and Gromit." Even NASA played a prank on April Fool's Day in 2002, releasing fake images that "proved" the moon was made of cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the moon is not made of string cheese or any other kind of cheese. The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a long-standing myth, with the earliest record of this notion coming from a medieval Slavic fable.
The earliest record of the myth that the moon is made of cheese comes from a medieval Slavic fable about a ravenous wolf chasing a fox. The fox tricks the wolf into thinking that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese, and the wolf drinks all the water trying to get to it.
While it is doubtful that anyone has ever academically believed that the moon is made of cheese, a 1902 survey of childlore by psychologist G. Stanley Hall found that the most common explanation for the moon's composition among young children was that it was made of cheese.
Yes, the idea that the moon is made of cheese has been referenced in popular culture numerous times. The best-known early citation can be found in "The Proverbs of John Heywood" from 1546. More recently, the characters Wallace and Gromit taste the moon in their first adventure, "A Grand Day Out", concluding that it is like no other cheese they've tasted before.
No, there is no scientific evidence that the moon is made of cheese. The harmonic signature of moon rock, or the seismic velocity at which shockwaves travel, does resemble that of some cheeses, but this can be explained by the extensive history of impacts on the lunar surface.
