UK Scientists Analyze China's First Moon Rocks Since 1976

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For the first time since 1976, lunar samples have reached Earth – and UK scientists are among the few allowed to study them.

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Professor Mahesh Anand's team at The Open University received just 60mg of material from China's Chang'e-5 mission – "more precious than gold dust.

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These tiny lunar grains require special handling in triple-sealed containers and clean rooms where scientists wear full-body protective gear.

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Why so careful? Even the smallest Earth contamination could ruin measurements of gases and elements that tell us about the Moon's origin

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The samples came from the Mons Rümker region – a volcanic area different from locations visited during earlier Apollo missions.

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Scientists will test the "giant-impact hypothesis" – did a Mars-sized body called Theia collide with early Earth 4.5 billion years ago to form our Moon?

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Chinese researchers have already found hydrated minerals containing water molecules in these samples – a significant finding for our lunar understanding.

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The Chang'e-6 mission has since returned 1.9kg of material from the Moon's far side – the first samples ever retrieved from this previously unexplored region.

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Seven international teams from the UK, Japan, France, Germany, Pakistan, Russia, and EU are studying these lunar treasures on one-year loans.

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As lunar exploration accelerates globally, these small moon rocks may reveal big insights about our planet's own history and formation.

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