Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of ancient structures beneath the surface of the moon, shedding light on its mysterious past. China's Chang'e-4 lander, part of the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), touched down on the far side of the moon in 2018, marking a historic milestone in lunar exploration. Since then, the lander has been collecting valuable data, including images of impact craters and mineral samples, offering unprecedented insights into the moon's geological composition.

The findings from Chang'e-4, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, unveil a layered structure in the top 130 feet of the lunar surface, consisting of dust, soil, and rock fragments. Researchers, led by Jianqing Feng from the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, also identified five distinct layers of ancient lava flows that date back billions of years. These discoveries provide crucial clues about the moon's formation and evolution, linking it to a catastrophic event 4.51 billion years ago when a Mars-sized object collided with Earth, creating our celestial companion.

According to Feng, the moon experienced volcanic activity for millions of years after its formation, with magma flowing through cracks in its surface due to impact-related fractures. However, the latest data indicates a decline in volcanic activity between one to 100 million years ago, rendering the moon largely inactive in geological terms. Despite this, the research team speculates that remnants of magma may still exist deep below the lunar surface, hinting at possible ongoing geological processes waiting to be uncovered by future missions. Chang'e-4 continues to explore the moon, raising hopes for further revelations about its ancient history and geological mysteries.