Chinese Scientists Discover Water Molecules in Lunar Soil for the First Time

Chinese scientists have found water molecules in lunar soil for the first time, a revelation that could significantly enhance our understanding of the Moon’s evolution and its potential resources.

The discovery was made based on lunar soil samples returned by China’s Chang’e-5 mission in 2020. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), a hydrated mineral enriched with molecular water was found within these samples, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

This finding contrasts with previous conclusions drawn from samples brought back by American Apollo astronauts decades ago, which revealed no signs of water and led scientists to believe that lunar soil was completely dry.

The research was a joint effort by scientists from the Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, the Institute of Physics of CAS, and other domestic research institutions. Their study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Astronomy on July 16.

Using a sample provided by the China National Space Administration, the team isolated over 1,000 mineral clasts and identified a plate-like transparent crystal, named “unknown lunar mineral” (ULM-1), which contained water molecules. The researchers ruled out contamination from terrestrial sources or rocket exhaust, suggesting that if this water-bearing mineral is present in one sample, it should be found in others as well.