Beads on the moon suggest it had volcanoes more recently than thought Premium

Scientists challenge belief of moon's dormant volcanoes with evidence of volcanic activity as recent as 120 million years ago based on samples collected by China’s Chang’e 5 mission.

Scientists widely believed volcanic activity on the moon ceased about a billion years ago. A study published in Science on September 5 called this idea into question with evidence suggesting the moon had active volcanoes as recently as 120 million years ago.

The moon’s volcanic activity sheds light on how its surface was formed, its atmospheric conditions, and its tectonic activity. Volcanoes can also create conditions suitable for life by releasing water and providing energy and nutrients.

More recent research using remote-sensing data from satellites has found signs of volcanic activity from around 800 million years ago, but no exact date for the activity itself.

Researchers behind the new study, led by Bi-Wen Wang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, investigated moon samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission.

They focused their analysis on lunar glass beads — small spherical or egg-shaped glass pieces formed by volcanic activity or impact events like when rocks from space smash the moon’s surface.

The way high-energy events create glass beads on the moon is similar to how tektites formed from impacts and volcanic rock (like obsidian) from eruptions on the earth.

In volcanic eruptions, magma from the moon’s surface throws up lava fragments. When these fragments cool quickly they form the beads.