Chinese Spacecraft Unveils Recent Lunar Volcanic Activity

Recent analysis of lunar rock samples from China's Chang'e 5 spacecraft has revealed evidence of volcanic activity on the Moon as recently as 120 million years ago. This finding challenges previous scientific consensus that volcanic activity on the Moon ceased around 2 billion years ago.

Evidence collected by a Chinese spacecraft suggests that volcanic eruptions occurred on the Moon as recently as 120 million years ago. This is a significant departure from the longstanding scientific consensus that lunar volcanic activity ended around 2 billion years ago.

The new findings were derived from analyses of lunar rock and soil samples returned to Earth by China's Chang'e 5 mission in 2020. Published in Science, the study reveals that specific areas of the Moon's interior may have been enriched with radioactive elements, generating the heat necessary for volcanic activity.

The discovery of young volcanic droplets could prompt a major revision in our understanding of the Moon's geological development.

(With inputs from agencies.)