Angular‑Momentum Discrepancy in the Earth–Moon System: Evidence from Direct Measurements and Deep‑Time Geological Records

The long‑term evolution of the Earth–Moon system is traditionally attributed to tidal friction, which transfers angular momentum from Earth’s rotation to the Moon’s orbit. Present‑day measurements show that Earth’s rotational angular‑momentum loss closely matches the Moon’s orbital gain, consistent with this framework. However, deep‑time constraints from fossil growth increments and tidal rhythmites reveal a persistent and significant mismatch between these two quantities over the past 3.2 billion years. At 900 million years ago, Earth’s rotational angular‑momentum loss exceeded the Moon’s orbital gain by ~40 %, and at 3.2 billion years ago, by nearly a factor of three. These discrepancies cannot be reconciled by classical tidal friction, even when accounting for solar tides, ocean‑basin evolution, atmospheric tides, or core–mantle coupling. Using empirically fitted histories of the length of day (LOD), number of days per year (DOY), and Earth–Moon distance (DOM), I show that the angular‑momentum imbalance is robust and increases exponentially backward in time. The Dark Matter Field Fluid (DMFF) model provides a natural explanation: Earth loses rotational angular momentum to a pervasive dark‑matter‑like medium, while the Moon’s orbital evolution is driven by DMFF drag and anti‑gravitational effects. The DMFF‑derived equations for LOD, DOY, and DOM match both modern astronomical measurements and deep‑time geological records, including the critical LOD and DOM constraints at 3.2 billion years ago. The angular‑momentum discrepancy is therefore not a flaw in the data but a signature of DMFF physics, revealing a deeper dynamical structure of the Earth–Moon system.