Published : 29/11/2021
When did the magma activity that indicates lunar life stop? This is a question of concern for scientists all over the world.
In October 2021, Chinese researchers came up with a new conclusion using lunar soil brought back by Chang'e-5, filling a gap left by the lunar sampling missions of the United States and former Soviet Union.
Despite using only a few grams of lunar soil to achieve such important research results, this was due to the diligent and dedicated spirit of the researchers.
Using a few grams of lunar soil to trace history of lunar evolution
In December 2020, Chang'e-5 completed its lunar soil sampling mission, successfully bringing back 1,731 grams of samples from the moon.
This was the first time China had collected samples from an extraterrestrial body, and it was also the first time in 44 years that new lunar samples had been retrieved by humans.
All scientists hope to "see the past of the Moon" from these samples, which are even more valuable than gold.
More than half a year after the lunar soil "landed", Institution of Geology and Geophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences led the research team, obtained a part of the first batch of "Chang'e-5" lunar soil samples - 3 grams of lunar soil powder and 2 rock fragment slides.
To conduct scientific research based on these lunar soil powders can be described as "treasure hunting in the dust." Facing these gram-sized samples, researchers tread on thin ice.
"The lunar soil obtained by Chang'e-5 is very fine, with an average size of only 60 micrometers," Li Xianhua, a researcher at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, holds out his palm: "It would be gone with a breath."
If mishandled, once the bottle cap is opened, the lunar soil will be "blown away" by the static effect on Earth. Li Xianhua's team operated in a glove box filled with high-purity nitrogen.
They only consumed 0.15 grams of lunar soil to complete the first batch of research tasks.
In addition to their careful work attitude, how to maximize the function of the instrument was also critical. The research team specially purchased instruments such as ion probes and nano-ion probes, and invented unique techniques to tune the instruments to their optimal condition, or as the staff said, to "push the capabilities of the instruments to their limit."
Under such extreme conditions, staff were able to "find treasure in the lunar dust." In the end, the researchers identified a new type of lunar basalt, proving that lunar magma activity existed until about 2 billion years ago, extending our previous understanding of lunar magma activity by about 800 million years.
This data fills the gap left by U.S. and former Soviet Union lunar sampling missions, further fleshing out the history of lunar evolution.
Read more: Uncover history with cutting-edge archaeological technology
Scientists remain tirelessly devoted
Before China obtained its own lunar soil, lunar research was even more challenging.
Ouyang Ziyuan, who served as the chief scientist of the "Chang'e Project" for seven consecutive years, is a famous celestial and geochemist in China. He and his team have been dedicated to researching lunar geology and lunar exploration engineering since the 1960s.
He recalled that in 1978, the United States gave China 1 gram of lunar soil samples, "only the size of a soybean."
Chinese scientists used 0.5 grams of the sample, spent 3 to 4 months, completed all analysis and testing work, and published 14 scientific papers.
Forty years later, China has successfully launched its own lunar probe and obtained its own lunar soil. Compared with the past, the exploration capabilities and research strength have greatly improved, but what remains unchanged is the tireless dedication of scientists and researchers.