A team of scientists, including a geophysicist, chemist, and mathematician, has proposed that the Moon may be older than previously thought based on new research.
The formation of the Moon is still a topic of debate among scientists. In the 1980s, researchers suggested that a Mars-size object crashed into early Earth, causing molten material to be ejected into space, where it coalesced into the Moon. This theory explained several features of the Moon, such as its low iron content and lack of easily evaporable materials.
However, when scientists dated rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts, they found that the oldest rocks were approximately 4.35 billion years old, which is 200 million years after the solar system’s birth. This led to a discrepancy between the theory and the data.
To resolve this issue, the researchers proposed an alternative explanation: extreme heating events during the Moon’s slow outward journey from Earth could have reset the internal clocks of the rocks, making them appear younger than they actually are. If this hypothesis is correct, it would suggest that the Moon formed earlier than previously thought.
The proposal has sparked interest among scientists, with some researchers arguing for a similar idea and others presenting alternative theories. To confirm or refute these ideas, further analysis of moon samples is needed.
This study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research in bridging the gap between geologists and geochemists, who often use different methods and languages to describe their findings. By combining their expertise, researchers can develop new insights into complex scientific questions.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/moon-might-older-scientists-previously-160127201.html