Volcanoes were still erupting on the moon during Earth’s dinosaur age, new research suggests, much more recently than previously believed. Earlier analysis of samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 lunar mission had concluded that volcanic activity stopped about 2 billion years ago, updating previous assessments that there had been no active lunar volcanoes for about 4 billion years. The research team behind the study was “surprised and excited” by the “unexpected” discovery. However, it’s still “unclear” how the moon could have remained volcanically active for so long, the paper said. In June, China became the first country to retrieve rocks from the far side of the moon with its Chang’e-6 mission.

---

Persons: Li Qiu, Li, it’s, Qian Yuqi, ” Qian, Luna Organizations: of Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Hong, U.S . Locations: University of Hong Kong, U.S, Soviet, China