Moon dust is less toxic than urban air pollution, scientists discover

An astronaut in a bulky space suit kneels on a dusty grey surface, allowing dust to pour from their gloved hand.

Moon dust may not be as harmful to humans as had been thought, with a new experiment showing that the typical air pollution on a busy street is more toxic than inhaling lunar dust.

"The results contribute to the safety case for returning humans to the moon," said Brian Oliver, who is a Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney, in a statement.