Our country's scientists uncover the reason why there are volcanic eruptions on the moon in its "old age"

Scientists have long believed that the moon was "dormant" 3 billion years ago, with volcanic activity essentially ceasing. However, China's Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 missions brought back basalt samples formed 2 billion and 2.8 billion years ago, respectively, confirming that the moon continued to experience volcanic eruptions in its so-called "late years." This raises a key scientific question: what heat dynamic mechanism is supporting the moon's continued vitality in its "later years"? In response to this mystery, a research team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, conducted a systematic study on the samples from the Chang'e-6 mission, successfully revealing the source characteristics and heat driving mechanisms of the moon's young volcanic activity. The related findings were published on August 23 in the international academic journal "Science Advances."