Recent advancements in atom-probe tomography have led to a groundbreaking discovery: the Moon is approximately 4.46 billion years old, which is about 40 million years older than previously believed. This conclusion was reached after examining lunar crystals collected during the Apollo 17 mission, offering new insights into the Moon’s formation and its influence on Earth.
The study involved Northwestern University scientists who analyzed these lunar samples, which were originally gathered by Apollo 17 astronauts.
Through detailed examination of minuscule Moon crystals from the 1972 Apollo 17 mission, researchers have updated the Moon’s age estimate. The previous belief was that the Moon was 4.425 billion years old, but the new findings suggest an age of around 4.46 billion years.
The research, led by teams from the Field Museum and the University of Glasgow, utilized Northwestern University’s atom-probe tomography facility to accurately determine the age of the sample’s oldest crystal. The discovery of these zircon crystals, hidden in lunar dust, was key to reconstructing the Moon’s formation timeline.
This study has been published in Geochemical Perspectives Letters.
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Advancements in Space Research Technology
Northwestern’s Dieter Isheim, a co-author of the study, highlighted the significant technological strides since 1972, the year of the last manned Moon mission. He noted that while the lunar samples were returned to Earth over fifty years ago, only now do scientists possess the advanced tools needed for such precise microanalysis, including atom-probe tomography.
A key component of the study was the microscopic examination of a lunar zircon grain, credited to Jennika Greer.
This atom-by-atom analysis allowed researchers to track the decay of atoms in zircon crystals. The decay process, where atoms like uranium transform into other elements like lead, provides a basis for estimating the age of a sample by comparing the quantities of uranium and lead present.
Philipp Heck of the Field Museum, the study’s senior author, likened radiometric dating to an hourglass, where the passage of time is marked by the accumulation of sand in the lower bulb. In radiometric dating, the transformation of parent atoms into daughter atoms over a known rate enables time measurement.
Isheim holds positions as a research associate professor at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and manager of the Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT). David Seidman, also a contributor to the study, is a professor emeritus at McCormick and a founding director of NUCAPT. Heck serves as the Field Museum’s Robert A. Pritzker Curator for Meteorites and Polar Studies, a senior director at the Negaunee Interactive Research Center, and a professor at the University of Chicago. Jennika Greer, the study’s lead author and a research associate professor at the University of Glasgow, was a Ph.D. candidate in Heck’s lab when the research commenced.
The Early Days of the Moon
The Moon’s formation dates back over 4 billion years, during the early stages of the solar system when a massive object, about the size of Mars, collided with Earth. This monumental impact ejected a large mass from Earth, leading to the Moon’s creation, and the resulting energy melted the material that eventually formed the Moon’s surface.
Heck explained that when the Moon’s surface was molten, zircon crystals couldn’t form or endure. Thus, any existing crystals must have developed after the lunar magma ocean cooled. Otherwise, their chemical signatures would have been obliterated.
By establishing the age of the zircon crystals, scientists could determine the Moon’s minimum age. To ascertain the Moon’s maximum possible age, researchers utilized Northwestern’s atom-probe tomography tools.
Greer described the atom-probe tomography process, which involves sharpening a lunar sample piece into a fine tip, then evaporating atoms from this tip using UV lasers. The atoms’ movement through a mass spectrometer reveals their composition.
Upon analyzing the sample materials and conducting radiometric dating, researchers concluded that the oldest crystals date back about 4.46 billion years, indicating the Moon’s minimum age.
Heck emphasized the Moon’s significance, stating that it plays a crucial role in Earth’s natural system, influencing aspects like the stabilization of Earth’s rotational axis, the length of a day, and the occurrence of tides. Understanding the Moon’s formation, he noted, is vital to comprehending its role in our planetary system.
This research was supported by NASA, the Field Museum’s Women’s Board Women in Science Graduate Fellowship, and additional funding from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Moon age discovery
How old is the Moon according to recent research?
Recent studies using atom-probe tomography have determined that the Moon is about 4.46 billion years old, which is 40 million years older than previously estimated.
What technology was used to revise the Moon’s age?
The revision of the Moon’s age was made possible through advanced atom-probe tomography, a technique that allows precise microanalysis of lunar samples.
Where did the lunar samples used in the study come from?
The lunar samples analyzed in the study were collected during the Apollo 17 mission, the last manned Moon mission, which took place in 1972.
What does the study of lunar zircon crystals reveal?
The study of lunar zircon crystals, hidden within dust collected from the Moon, helped researchers piece together the timeline of the Moon’s formation and determine its age.
Who led the research on the Moon’s age?
The research was led by scientists from the Field Museum and the University of Glasgow, with significant contributions from Northwestern University.
What does the discovery mean for our understanding of the Moon?
This discovery offers deeper insights into the Moon’s formation and its impact on Earth’s environment, contributing to our broader understanding of the solar system.
What role did the atom-probe tomography facility play in this discovery?
Northwestern University’s atom-probe tomography facility was crucial in accurately determining the age of the oldest crystal in the lunar sample, thus revising the Moon’s age.
How does the process of radiometric dating work in this context?
Radiometric dating works by counting the number of parent atoms (like uranium) and their transformed daughter atoms (like lead) in zircon crystals. The rate of transformation is known, allowing researchers to calculate the age of the crystals.
More about Moon age discovery
- Northwestern University’s atom-probe tomography
- Apollo 17 mission and lunar samples
- Radiometric dating and lunar zircon crystals
- Geochemical Perspectives Letters study publication
- Field Museum’s research on lunar formation
- University of Glasgow’s role in Moon age study
- Dieter Isheim’s work at Northwestern
- Philipp Heck’s contributions to lunar research
- Jennika Greer’s research on lunar zircons
- NASA’s support for lunar age study
- Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy funding
- History of the Apollo 17 mission
5 comments
I remember watching the Apollo missions as a kid, never would’ve guessed they’d lead to discoveries like this years later. Science is always full of surprises!
I read the article in Geochemical Perspectives Letters, some of this science stuff is hard to get but its super interesting, the moon’s history is just mind-blowing.
So the apollo 17 mission was way more important than we thought! those lunar samples are like a time capsule from the past.
this is really fascinating, I always thought the moon was younger, Its incredible how much we still have to learn about our solar system.
wow, i cant believe the moon is that old! its amazing what technology like atom-probe tomography can do nowadays.