Chinese Mission Samples Reveal The Secret Of Strange Soil On The Far Side Of The Moon
Chinese Mission Samples Reveal The Secret Of Strange Soil On The Far Side Of The Moon
After the probe returned with its historic mission in 2024, a strange phenomenon caught the attention of scientists: the soil on the far side seemed viscous and lumpy than its counterpart on the near side, as if it were hiding a unique geological secret.
Previous sampling missions, Apollo, Luna and Chang’e-5, have together brought back approximately 383 kilograms of lunar soil and rocks from the near side of the Moon, enhancing our understanding of lunar geological evolution and the properties of the mantle. However, the absence of samples from the far side has limited investigations into its unique composition and geological history.
Chinese scientists have unraveled the mystery behind the unusually cohesive lunar soil retrieved by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon, which distinguished it from samples collected on the near side of the moon.
Through detailed compositional and individual… pic.twitter.com/wFj71ANi2x— China Science (@ChinaScience)
Chinese scientists have unraveled the mystery behind the unusually cohesive lunar soil retrieved by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon, which distinguished it from samples collected on the near side of the moon.
Through detailed compositional and individual…pic.twitter.com/wFj71ANi2xthe و of و from – تفاصيل مهمة
— China Science (@ChinaScience)November 26, 2025
On June 25, 2024, China’s Chang’e-6 mission successfully returned 1,935.3 grams of lunar soil from the South Pole Basin, known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, on the far side of the Moon, which is the largest, deepest, and oldest collisional structure on the Moon.
Chinese scientists have solved the puzzle of the unusually sticky lunar soil retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission. The cohesive nature of the far-side soil, described as like flour than sand, is due to a combination of fine, rough particles formed by continuous meteorite… pic.twitter.com/z4V6YwogJv
— China Takeaway (@China24Official)
Chinese scientists have solved the puzzle of the unusually sticky lunar soil retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission. The cohesive nature of the far-side soil, described as like flour than sand, is due to a combination of fine, rough particles formed by continuous meteorite…pic.twitter.com/z4V6YwogJv
— China Takeaway (@China24Official)November 25, 2025
The returned samples appeared “slightly stickier and somewhat clumpy” compared to the relatively soft and loose material collected by the Chang’e-5 mission.
the و of و by – تفاصيل مهمة
This strange observation prompted a team from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics to begin an exceptional research journey. Through a series of careful experiments, scientists discovered that this soil is characterized by finer and coarser grains, making it similar in behavior to cohesive soil on Earth. When they delved deeper into the analysis, they found that the secret lies in a complex interaction between three hidden forces: natural frictional forces (the force that arises when two surfaces come into contact with each other), the mysterious Van der Waals forces (which are weak attractive forces that arise between very small particles), and electrostatic forces (the forces of attraction or repulsion that arise as a result of electrical charges).
By examining than 290,000 soil particles using high-resolution CT scanning technology, it was found that there is a “critical point” when the size of the particles is less than 100 micrometers, where these hidden forces begin to exert their influence, causing this unusual cohesion.
What is surprising is that the Chang’e-6 samples set a record for the fineness of the particles, as their average size reached only 48.4 micrometers. They are not only finer, but also complex in their shapes and less spherical as well.
Professor Qi Xingjun explains this strange phenomenon by saying: “The fine grains are usually rounder, but what we found in the soil of the far side tells a different story. They are like small pieces of abstract art, formed under the influence of a harsh environment that we know little about.”
the و of و is – تفاصيل مهمة
Behind these natural art forms is an interesting geological story, as scientists believe that the reason is due to a combination of two factors: the abundance of fragile feldspar minerals that break easily, and the effects of harsher space factors on the far side of the moon. Together, these factors create a unique combination of fine and coarse grains, which increases the cohesive forces between the particles.
This scientific discovery is not just a solution to a scientific puzzle, but rather opens new horizons for space exploration. Understanding the properties of the far side’s soil will enable us to better plan future exploration missions, build safer lunar bases, and make better use of the Moon’s resources. It’s a small step on the moon, but a big leap for human knowledge.
Source: Xinhua
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification. We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Author: uaetodaynews
Published on: 2025-11-27 03:47:00
Source: uaetodaynews.com
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