The Moon has long been a subject of fascination for scientists and space enthusiasts alike. One of its most striking features is the asymmetry between its near and far sides, which manifests in various ways – from topography and crustal thickness to volcanic activity. The origins of these differences have puzzled researchers for decades, but the China’s Chang’e-6 mission has finally provided some answers.

Launched on May 3, 2024, the Chang’e-6 spacecraft returned a significant amount of material from the lunar farside’s South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA), the largest and deepest known impact structure on the Moon. The samples arrived on Earth on June 25, 2024, and their analysis has shed new light on the evolution of the Moon.

Researchers led by institutions affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) and the National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC), have made four landmark discoveries based on the SPA samples. Their findings were published in cover articles in the journal Nature, providing a comprehensive understanding of the profound geological consequences of the impact that formed the SPA.

One of the most significant discoveries is that volcanic activity on the lunar farside persisted for at least 1.4 billion years, far longer than previously thought. This prolonged volcanic activity is attributed to two distinct phases – 4.2 billion and 2.8 billion years ago. The analysis also revealed a rebound in the Moon’s magnetic field 2.8 billion years ago, suggesting that the lunar dynamo, which generates magnetic fields, fluctuated episodically rather than fading steadily.

Furthermore, the research teams found significant asymmetry in water distribution within the lunar interior, with the farside mantle having lower water content than the nearside mantle. Geochemical analysis of basalt points to an “ultra-depleted” mantle source, likely resulting from either a primordial depleted mantle or massive melt extraction triggered by large impacts.

The Chang’e-6 mission has not only illuminated the evolution of the Moon’s farside but also underscored the transformative impact of space exploration on our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. The four landmark discoveries made possible by this mission are a testament to the power of international collaboration and the unwavering dedication of scientists to unraveling the secrets of our cosmos.

The discovery of 3I/ATLAS, a mystery interstellar object, has sent shockwaves through the scientific community. This ancient visitor is likely to be the oldest comet ever seen, possibly predating our solar system by more than three billion years. According to University of Oxford astronomer Matthew Hopkins, 3I/ATLAS could be more than seven billion years old and may be the most remarkable interstellar visitor yet.

Unlike previous objects that entered our solar system from elsewhere in the cosmos, 3I/ATLAS appears to be traveling on a steep path through the galaxy. Its trajectory suggests it originated from the Milky Way’s ‘thick disk’ – a population of ancient stars orbiting above and below the thin plane where the Sun and most stars reside.

Hopkins explained that all non-interstellar comets, such as Halley’s comet, formed with our solar system and are up to 4.5 billion years old. However, interstellar visitors have the potential to be far older, and 3I/ATLAS is likely to be the oldest comet ever seen.

The object was first spotted on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile, when it was about 670 million kilometers from the Sun. As 3I/ATLAS approaches the Sun, sunlight will heat its surface and trigger cometary activity, or the outgassing of vapor and dust that creates a glowing coma and tail.

Early observations already suggest the comet is active, and possibly larger than either of its interstellar predecessors, 1I/’Oumuamua (spotted in 2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019). If confirmed, this could have implications for how many similar objects future telescopes, such as the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory, are likely to detect.

The discovery of 3I/ATLAS has sparked excitement among astronomers, who believe it may provide clues about the role that ancient interstellar comets play in seeding star and planet formation across the galaxy. As the comet continues on its journey towards the Sun, scientists will be closely monitoring its activity and behavior.

The study by scientists at UCL (University College London) and the University of Cambridge has revealed that “space ice” is not as disordered as previously assumed. The most common form of ice in the Universe, low-density amorphous ice, contains tiny crystals (about three nanometers wide) embedded within its disordered structures.

For decades, scientists have believed that ice in space is completely amorphous, with colder temperatures meaning it does not have enough energy to form crystals when it freezes. However, the researchers used computer simulations and experimental work to show that this is not entirely true.

They found that low-density amorphous ice contains a mixture of crystalline and amorphous regions, rather than being completely disordered. This has significant implications for our understanding of water and life in the Universe.

The findings also have implications for one speculative theory about how life on Earth began, known as Panspermia. According to this theory, the building blocks of life were carried here on an ice comet. However, the researchers’ discovery suggests that this ice would be a less good transport material for these origin of life molecules.

Lead author Dr Michael B. Davies said: “We now have a good idea of what the most common form of ice in the Universe looks like at an atomic level.” The study’s results raise many additional questions about the nature of amorphous ices, and its findings may hold the key to explaining some of water’s many anomalies.

Co-author Professor Christoph Salzmann said: “Ice on Earth is a cosmological curiosity due to our warm temperatures. Ice in the rest of the Universe has long been considered a snapshot of liquid water.” However, this study shows that this is not entirely true, and that ice can take on different forms depending on its origin.

The research team’s findings also raise questions about amorphous materials in general, which have important uses in advanced technology. For instance, glass fibers that transport data long distances need to be amorphous for their function. If they do contain tiny crystals and we can remove them, this will improve their performance.

In conclusion, the study has revealed that cosmic ice is more complex than previously thought, with tiny crystals hidden within its disordered structures. This has significant implications for our understanding of water and life in the Universe, and raises many additional questions about the nature of amorphous ices.