Recent findings from China's Chang'e-6 mission have made significant strides in unraveling the geological mysteries of the moon's far side, particularly focusing on evidence of volcanic activity. These discoveries enhance our understanding of the moon's evolution and promote further global research in lunar science.

Research teams from various prestigious institutions, including the Institute of Geology and Geophysics and the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with Nanjing University, published four groundbreaking studies in the latest issue of Nature that shed light on the samples collected by the Chang'e-6 mission.

The far side of the moon, often referred to as the dark side, is known for its mysterious, unexplored terrain, as the same side of the moon consistently faces Earth. This mission's findings help address the significant disparities between the near and far sides, particularly concerning their morphology, composition, and geological activities.

The Chang'e-6 mission, which took place in 2024, successfully returned with 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This basin is notable for being the largest, deepest, and oldest lunar impact structure, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the compositional differences that characterize the moon's near and far sides.

As stated by Wu Fuyuan, an academician at CAS, the impact that created the South Pole-Aitken Basin was colossal, with energy release estimated at one trillion times that of an atomic bomb explosion. The implications of this monumental collision on the moon's geological history have posed a long-standing puzzle for scientists.

The published papers indicate that volcanic activity on the moon's far side occurred around 4.2 billion to 2.8 billion years ago, demonstrating a potential continuity of volcanic processes for at least 1.4 billion years. This temporal insight is crucial for understanding the moon's geological past.

For the first time, researchers have obtained data on the ancient magnetic field of the moon, suggesting a fluctuation in its intensity approximately 2.8 billion years ago. This revelation hints at dynamic processes within the moon's core, contributing to the ongoing debates surrounding its geological evolution.

Notably, the study revealed a stark contrast in water content between the far side and the near side of the moon, with the former exhibiting significantly lower levels. This information is vital for understanding the distribution of water resources on the lunar surface.

Yang Wei, a researcher with IGG, pointed out the extreme depletion of incompatible elements in the basalt sourced from the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This depletion signifies either a primordial scarcity of these elements in the lunar mantle or the effects of the massive impact event that reshaped the moon's geology.

The historical context of these samples is further enriched by the confirmation that the South Pole-Aitken Basin was formed roughly 4.25 billion years ago. This precise dating serves as a pivotal marker for scholars studying the early solar system's impact history.

Experts, including Mahesh Anand from the Open University, acknowledge that while lunar samples have been studied for decades from past missions, the insights gained from Chang'e-6 are redefining established theories in lunar science. This invites a reevaluation of long-held beliefs about the moon's geological processes.

He Hongping, vice president of CAS, highlighted the significance of the Chang'e-6 findings in elevating China's lunar exploration efforts, calling for a thoughtful integration of scientific inquiry and engineering advancements to continue unlocking the moon's secrets.