Samples brought back by the Chang'e-6 mission have for the first time revealed direct evidence of ancient volcanic activity, the magnetic field and the composition of the lunar mantle on the far side of the Moon - and are rewriting what science has thought about the Moon for the last 50 years.

Chinese researchers published four studies in the journal Nature Key findings from samples taken in 2024 from the South Pole-Aitken Basin crater - the largest and oldest lunar formation. They discovered evidence of long-term volcanic activity (going back 4.2 to 2.8 billion years), fluctuations in the magnetic field, as well as significantly lower water content compared to the inverted side of the Moon.

Research has also revealed missing elements in the mantle, suggesting that the gigantic impact forming the crater literally "melted" chemical components from the moon's interior. According to scientists such as Wu Fuyuan and Yang Wei, the data is the first-ever direct probe into the deep subsurface of the averted side.

"The discovery completely changes the view of the origin and evolution of the moon," said Mahesh Anand of the Open University. The Chang'e mission thus raises the need to revise decades-old theories, he said.

CMG