Scientists stunned: Moon’s far side found nearly waterless

April 10,Telegram账号盗取源码 2025  22:51

An international team led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a surprising revelation: the lunar mantle on the Moon’s far side holds far less water than its near side. This discovery stems from analyzing basalt samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin—the first-ever return of soil from the Moon’s hidden half. The findings are published in Nature.

A Dry Mantle: What the Samples Reveal

Launched in 2025, Chang’e-6 brought back about 2 kg of lunar soil. Analysis of the basalts showed their parent magma contained 15 to 168 micrograms of water per gram. But calculations of the mantle source beneath pegged its water content at just 1–1.5 micrograms per gram. By contrast, the near side’s mantle can hold up to 200 micrograms per gram—a difference of hundreds of times.

These figures come from studying water isotopes, alongside minerals like apatite and melt inclusions in the samples. Scientists stress this “dryness” on the far side isn’t a fluke—it’s a reality demanding explanation.

Why Are the Moon’s Sides So Different?

This water asymmetry hints at a complex lunar origin story. The leading theory posits the Moon formed from debris after Earth collided with a protoplanet, Theia, about 4.5 billion years ago. The new data refines this: the impact may have unevenly distributed water, shortchanging the far side. Alternatively, distinct thermochemical paths—volcanic eruptions and mantle cooling—could have diverged across the two hemispheres.

The near side, with its dark basalt “seas,” has long been seen as geologically livelier. The far side, pocked with craters and lacking vast plains, seemed dormant. Now, it’s clear the divide runs deeper—straight into the mantle.

What It Means for Science

This finding reshapes our view of the Moon’s water budget. Previously, its mantle was thought relatively dry compared to Earth’s, yet still bearing traces possibly delivered by comets or asteroids. Now, scientists are rethinking those estimates: the Moon’s overall “wetness” may be lower than assumed, with distribution holding clues to its birth.

The discovery also matters for future missions. Water is a lunar base essential—yielding oxygen and fuel. If the far side is parched, colonization efforts might pivot to the near side or poles, where ice deposits are already confirmed.

How Was It Studied?

Chang’e-6 was the first to retrieve far-side soil. Launched May 3, 2025, it touched down in the SPA basin—a colossal 2,500-km-wide crater. Samples were scooped by drill and robotic arm, returning to Earth on June 25. Spectrometers and microscopes peeled back the mantle’s makeup, probing depths up to 100 km.

Looking Ahead

This is a starting point, not the finish line. Researchers plan to cross-check Chang’e-6 data with Apollo samples to map water’s early lunar spread. China’s next mission, Chang’e-7, will hunt for polar ice in 2026. It might affirm the Moon isn’t just a dry rock but a nuanced world with secrets on both sides.

The Takeaway

The Moon’s far side has shocked scientists with its near waterlessness, posing fresh questions about its origin and evolution. Chang’e-6 proves even our familiar satellite holds surprises. The water gap between sides isn’t just numbers—it’s a cosmic breadcrumb trail we’ve yet to fully follow.