Moon’s Magnetic Field Mystery Deepens: New Data from China’s Chang’e-6 Mission
A recent analysis of lunar samples returned by China’s Chang’e-6 mission has unveiled surprising new details about the moon’s magnetic field, challenging long-held scientific assumptions. The findings, published in the journal Nature, reveal a previously unknown resurgence in the moon’s magnetic strength billions of years ago.
The chang’e-6 probe, wich landed on the far side of the moon in June, brought back 1,935.3 grams of rock samples. Analysis of these samples by researchers at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed a notable increase in paleomagnetic field strength approximately 2.8 billion years ago. This unexpected surge followed a period of decline around 3.1 billion years ago.
This discovery directly contradicts the prevailing theory that the lunar dynamo, the process responsible for generating the moon’s magnetic field, remained weak after its initial decline. the new data provides the first-ever paleomagnetic measurements from the moon’s far side, offering crucial insights into a previously unknown chapter in lunar history.
“understanding the evolution of the lunar dynamo is of grate significance for revealing the moon’s internal structure, thermal history and surface surroundings,” explained Cai Shuhui from the IGG, lead author of the study. The researchers hypothesize that the resurgence may have been triggered by shifts in the dynamo’s energy sources or a renewal of its driving forces.
While satellite data confirms the moon currently lacks a global magnetic field, earlier studies of lunar samples indicated a powerful field comparable to Earth’s between 4.2 and 3.5 billion years ago. This new research fills a significant gap in our understanding of the moon’s magnetic history, spanning a billion years.
A peer reviewer of the study lauded the findings as “highly original results,” noting that they provide “the first paleomagnetic measurements from the lunar far side,” representing “a major advance in our understanding of lunar magnetism.”
These groundbreaking results are not the only significant discoveries from the Chang’e-6 mission. Separate studies, also published in Nature and Science, have reported evidence of volcanic activity on the moon’s far side, dating back 2.8 billion and 4.2 billion years ago. These findings, along with the new magnetic field data, paint a far more complex and dynamic picture of the moon’s geological past than previously imagined.
The implications of this research extend beyond lunar science. Understanding the evolution of planetary magnetic fields has significant implications for the search for life beyond Earth, as magnetic fields play a crucial role in protecting planets from harmful solar radiation. This new data from the moon’s far side provides valuable clues that could help scientists better understand the processes that shape planetary magnetic fields across the universe.
(with input from Xinhua)
