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Helium-3 (³He) is a rare isotope of helium that has significant potential as a clean nuclear fusion fuel. Among the celestial bodies in our solar system, the Moon is known to contain abundant helium-3 embedded in its lunar soil.

Helium-3 on the Moon is primarily delivered by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun. Over billions of years, this helium-3 has accumulated in the regolith, the layer of loose rock and dust covering the Moon’s surface. Scientists are interested in helium-3 because it can be used in fusion reactions to produce energy without the harmful byproducts associated with conventional nuclear fission, such as radioactive waste.

Other celestial bodies contain helium-3 in far smaller quantities. Earth has helium-3, but it is extremely scarce and difficult to extract. Venus and Saturn also have helium in their atmospheres, but their abundance of helium-3 is not comparable to the Moon’s surface deposits.

Helium-3 fusion is a major topic in astronomy, space exploration, and nuclear physics. Missions to the Moon in the future may focus on mining helium-3 as a potential energy source for Earth, which could play a key role in sustainable energy technologies.

Understanding the presence of helium-3 on the Moon teaches students about solar wind, lunar geology, and advanced energy concepts. It also highlights how celestial bodies in our solar system are studied for both scientific knowledge and practical applications. This question falls under Astronomy, which is not yet added to your website, so the canonical URL uses Everyday Science MCQs.