Andy Montoya
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a long-standing joke, dating back to at least the 16th century. The earliest known mention of this notion is found in John Heywood's The Proverbs of John Heywood, written in 1546, where he states, Ye fetch circumquaques to make me believe, Or thinke, that the moone is made of greene cheese. Over time, this phrase came to be associated with gullibility, and it is unlikely that anyone with a sound academic mind ever seriously believed that the moon was made of cheese. However, the phrase has persisted in popular culture, with references in children's programs and even a joke by NASA in 2002, claiming to have proven that the moon was made of cheese. While it is clear that the moon is not made of cheese, the phrase has become a fixture in Western thought and continues to capture the imagination of people of all ages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin of the myth | A medieval Slavic fable about a hungry wolf chasing a fox. The fox tricks the wolf into believing that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese. |
| Earliest written record | "The Proverbs of John Heywood", 1546 |
| Purpose of the expression | To refer to something so ludicrous that only the extremely gullible would believe it |
| Scientific basis | None. The moon is largely composed of silicate minerals. |
| Popular culture references | Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit, The Simpsons, and others |
| Hoaxes | In 2002, NASA released a Photoshopped image of the moon with an expiration date printed on one of its craters, jokingly "proving" that the moon was made of cheese. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Moon's seismic velocities are similar to those of popular cheeses like cheddar
- A medieval Slavic fable describes a fox tricking a wolf into thinking the Moon was cheese
- John Heywood's 1546 book of proverbs includes the phrase the moon is made of green cheese
- In 1638, philosopher John Wilkins used the phrase to refer to human gullibility
- On April Fool's Day 2002, NASA claimed to have proven the Moon was made of cheese
The Moon's seismic velocities are similar to those of popular cheeses like cheddar
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a part of popular culture for a long time, with references in medieval fables, 16th-century literature, and modern media. While it is widely known that the moon does not consist of dairy products, the notion has persisted and even inspired an April Fool's joke by NASA in 2002.
Now, let's focus on the seismic velocities of the Moon and how they compare to those of popular cheeses. Seismic velocity structure refers to the distribution and variation of seismic wave speeds within the Earth's and other planetary bodies' subsurface layers. Geophysicists study these velocities to understand the subsurface properties such as material composition, density, porosity, and temperature.
The Moon's seismic velocities differ significantly from those of terrestrial rocks and minerals. For context, the seismic velocities of terrestrial rocks and minerals range from 4.7 km/s for some sedimentary rocks to as high as 10 km/s for certain minerals. In contrast, the Moon's rocks exhibit seismic velocities from 1.2 to 1.9 km/s, which is notably slower.
Interestingly, these seismic velocities of the Moon's rocks overlap with the range found in popular cheeses like muenster, cheddar, and provolone. This similarity in seismic velocities has sparked playful speculation about the Moon's composition. However, it is important to note that these velocities result from the Moon's unique geological history, specifically the extensive impacts on its surface that have influenced the density and composition of its rocks.
While the Moon's seismic velocities are similar to those of cheeses like cheddar, it is essential to understand that this does not imply that the Moon is made of cheese. The Moon's seismic data can be adequately explained by considering its complex impact history and internal processes.
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A medieval Slavic fable describes a fox tricking a wolf into thinking the Moon was cheese
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a longstanding rumour, with the earliest record of this notion stemming from a medieval Slavic fable. The fable describes a hungry wolf chasing a fox in hopes of catching a meal. The fox, however, proves to be crafty and outsmarts the wolf.
In the fable, the fox convinces the wolf that the moon's reflection on a pond is a floating block of cheese. The wolf is enticed by the prospect of a delicious treat and is instructed by the fox to drink all the water in the pond to obtain it. Driven by greed, the wolf guzzles down the water, only to burst from overconsumption, while the fox escapes unharmed.
This medieval tale showcases the fox's cunning and trickery, using the illusion of cheese to escape the wolf's pursuit. The motif of mistaking the moon's reflection for cheese is prevalent in folklore across various cultures, including French, Jewish, Turkish, and Scottish tales.
The phrase "the moon is made of green cheese" emerged as a proverb and metaphor for credulity, reflecting the perception of a naive individual who mistakes the moon's reflection for a wheel of cheese. The term "green cheese" refers to unripe cheese or cheese with a greenish tint.
While the Slavic fable is the earliest known record, the notion that the moon is made of cheese has been a longstanding joke, with references appearing in literature as early as 1546 in "The Proverbs of John Heywood." The idea has also been perpetuated in modern popular culture, with NASA even playing along in an April Fool's Day joke in 2002, claiming to have proven that the moon was made of cheese.
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John Heywood's 1546 book of proverbs includes the phrase the moon is made of green cheese
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a long-standing notion, with the earliest record of this idea stemming from a medieval Slavic fable. In the fable, a fox convinces a hungry wolf that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese, tricking the wolf into drinking all the water to get the cheese. However, the notion was popularised in John Heywood's 1546 book of proverbs, which included the phrase, "the moon is made of green cheese".
In the context of Heywood's work, "green" refers to the cheese's youthfulness or newness rather than its colour. The phrase was used as a metaphor for credulity or gullibility, indicating that only a simpleton would believe such a claim. This interpretation is supported by a later citation from 1638 by English natural philosopher John Wilkins, who stated that one could easily persuade "some country peasants that the moon is made of green cheese".
Despite the moon-cheese idea being firmly rooted in fable and folklore, the notion has persisted for centuries, even making its way into modern popular culture. NASA, for example, played a joke on April Fool's Day in 2002, claiming to have "proven" that the moon was made of cheese by releasing a Photoshopped image of the moon with an expiration date on one of its craters. Additionally, some have tried to use seismic velocity data from moon rocks to suggest that the moon's composition is similar to that of popular cheeses like Muenster, Cheddar, and Provolone. However, scientists have alternative explanations for this data, and there is no serious scientific support for the moon-cheese theory.
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In 1638, philosopher John Wilkins used the phrase to refer to human gullibility
The idea that the moon is made of cheese has been a topic of fascination for centuries, with various theories and cultural references perpetuating this notion. One notable instance of this can be traced back to 1638, when the English natural philosopher John Wilkins used the phrase "the moon is made of greene cheese" to illustrate human gullibility.
John Wilkins, an Anglican clergyman, natural philosopher, and author, was born on February 14, 1614, and led a remarkable intellectual life. He was one of the founders of the Royal Society and played a pivotal role in fostering religious and political tolerance during a tumultuous period in English history. Wilkins was also a polymath, demonstrating expertise in fields such as mathematics and cryptography.
In 1638, Wilkins published his first book, "The Discovery of a World in the Moon," which appeared anonymously. In this work, he explored the similarities between the Earth and the Moon, proposing the idea that the Moon could potentially harbour living beings, which he referred to as Selenites. It is within this context that Wilkins introduced the phrase "the moon is made of greene cheese," not as a literal assertion, but as a figurative device to highlight human gullibility.
The phrase "the moon is made of greene cheese" had actually been in use since at least 1546, when it appeared in "The Proverbs of John Heywood." Over the following century, it became a common expression. Wilkins, in his 1638 book, used the phrase to illustrate how easily some people could be persuaded of ideas that were not based on factual evidence. He wrote, "you may ... soon persuade some country peasants that the moon is made of greene cheese, (as we say)," acknowledging the phrase's popularity while using it to make a point about human credulity.
The notion of the moon being made of cheese has persisted in popular culture, with references in children's programmes like "Tom and Jerry" and "Wallace and Gromit." Even NASA played with the idea, releasing a Photoshopped image on April Fool's Day in 2002, jokingly claiming to have proven that the moon was made of cheese. While the scientific community has never supported the claim, the enduring fascination with the idea showcases the interplay between science, humour, and our ongoing curiosity about the moon.
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On April Fool's Day 2002, NASA claimed to have proven the Moon was made of cheese
The idea that the Moon is made of cheese has been a long-standing myth, with the earliest record of this notion stemming from a medieval Slavic fable. In the fable, a fox convinces a hungry wolf that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese floating on the water, tricking the wolf into drinking all the water in an attempt to get the cheese. While it is unlikely that anyone truly believed this myth, it has persisted and evolved over the centuries.
On April Fools' Day 2002, NASA played a prank by claiming to have ""proven" that the Moon was made of cheese. They released a Photoshopped image of the Moon with an expiration date printed on one of its craters, purportedly taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. This prank built upon an already existing myth, adding a humorous twist by including an expiration date, sparking controversy over whether it was an expiration or "sell-by" date.
The joke also referenced a well-known early citation of the moon-cheese myth, found in The Proverbs of John Heywood from 1546. Over time, the phrase "the moon is made of greene cheese" (with ""greene" referring to the age of the cheese rather than its color) became commonly used to indicate a claim so clearly false that no one would believe it.
NASA's playful prank on April Fools' Day 2002 added a new layer of humor to the longstanding myth that the Moon is made of cheese, showcasing the lighthearted side of the scientific community and popular culture's fascination with this whimsical idea.
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Frequently asked questions
The idea that the moon is made of cheese is an old expression that was used to refer to something so ridiculous that only extremely gullible people would believe it. The earliest record of this notion comes from a medieval Slavic fable in which a fox convinces a wolf that the moon's reflection on a pond is a block of cheese.
No, the scientific community has never supported the claim that the moon is made of cheese. In fact, the moon's largely silicate mineral composition was confirmed in the 20th century, dispelling any cheese theories.
On April Fool's Day in 2002, NASA played a prank by claiming to have proven that the moon was made of cheese. They released a photoshopped image of the moon with an expiration date printed on one of its craters.
