Science

Earth's gravity may have kept the early moon's volcanic heart beating

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Briefings

A 2026 Chang'e-5 mission returned lunar samples showing volcanic material formed 2 billion years ago, challenging the long-held view that the Moon cooled rapidly after forming 4.5 billion years ago. This suggests the Moon's early interior remained active longer than previously thought, potentially influencing its geological history.

Key points

• Chang'e-5 mission returned lunar samples containing volcanic material dated to 2 billion years ago.
• This contradicts the standard model where the Moon cooled rapidly after forming 4.5 billion years ago.

Context

The Moon's early history is typically understood as a rapid cooling event following a giant impact 4.5 billion years ago. The discovery of 2-billion-year-old volcanic rocks suggests this cooling process was more gradual or prolonged than previously assumed.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to samples returned by Chang'e-5, which may not represent the entire Moon. The specific volcanic origin and timing remain subject to further research and are not fully confirmed.

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