Hey there, cosmic explorers! 🌕🔭 China's Chang'e-6 mission just landed on the moon's far side and brought back some epic lunar samples.
A brand-new study in Nature Communications by scientists from the Chinese mainland reveals these rocks came from a mantle that's drier, more barren, and in a 'reduced' state compared to the near side. In simple terms, 'reduced' means the elements have fewer oxygen atoms attached, hinting at a primitive origin or a past mega-impact.
Why does this matter? The redox (oxidation–reduction) state of a planet tells us a lot about its internal vibes and surface potential for life. Turns out, hundreds of kilometers deep, the near and far sides are still doing their own thing! 🌑✨
Yang Wei from the Chinese Academy of Sciences explains that this flips our old assumptions: the far side's mantle is like a time capsule holding clues to the moon's evolution. It’s a thrilling piece in the puzzle of our closest cosmic neighbour.
With missions like India's Chandrayaan-3 and the ROK’s Danuri in the mix, we’re entering a golden age of lunar exploration—perfect for all you stargazers and tech lovers in South Asia and Southeast Asia! 🚀🇮🇳🇸🇬
Reference(s):
New discovery: China's lunar samples deepen understanding of the moon
cgtn.com
