Volcanic activities on far side of moon last at least 1.4 billion years: study

The epoch-making discoveries achieved via studies of lunar rock samples retrieved by China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft were published in the world's leading scientific journals on Friday, revealing the volcanic activities of the moon's lesser-known far side, which is distinct from its near side, has lasted for at least 1.4 billion years.

On June 25 this year, the Chang'e-6 lunar probe returned to Earth with 1,935.3 grams of lunar rock and dust samples collected from the previously unexplored far side of the moon.

After analyzing the rock samples, researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry under the CAS learned that two volcanic events occurred on the moon's far side 2.8 billion years ago and 4.2 billion years ago, respectively, according to new studies published in the journal Nature and journal Science.

The studies also challenged the traditional belief that the thicker lunar crust on the far side of the moon prevents volcanic eruptions. However, the researchers discovered a scarcity of large volcanic rocks even in areas with a thin crust near the Chang'e-6 landing site. They suggested that other factors, such as the composition of the mantle source, may also have an impact on lunar volcanic activity.

"Previously, the moon is generally believed to turn cold faster because of its small size. By about three billion years, it may be relatively cold and it will be difficult to form large-scale magma eruptions. However, samples from Chang'e-6 and Chang'e-5 showed that after three billion years, the moon can still see relatively large-scale magma eruptions, indicating that it is still relatively hot at this time. So it undergoes some changes, compared with some understandings of predecessors," said Zhang Le, senior engineer of Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry.

"We also found some remnants from the impact on the moon after analyzing the lunar sample. It is also a relatively important discovery. These discoveries will be published one after another in the coming months," said Xu Yigang, researcher of Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry.

Volcanic activities on far side of moon last at least 1.4 billion years: study

Volcanic activities on far side of moon last at least 1.4 billion years: study

China continues to lead the world in logistics demand, with a growing industry now focused on improving quality and efficiency, according to an official with the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) at an academic conference on Saturday.

The 2024 China Logistics Academy Annual Conference, held from Friday to Sunday in Langfang City of north China's Hebei Province, brings together experts and scholars in the logistics sector for discussions across 11 sub-forums.

He Liming, head of the CFLP, told the conference that China remains the world's largest logistics market, with the sector seeing considerable growth.

The country is home to over 10,000 A-level logistics companies and 2,700 logistics parks spanning over 100,000 square meters. The emerging system of logistics corridors, hubs, and networks is streamlining operations and fostering greater efficiency in the sector.

Companies are increasingly embracing new technologies and business models, with smart logistics leading the charge in shaping the future of the industry.

In the first three quarters of this year, the ratio of social logistics costs to GDP stood at 14.1 percent, reflecting a 0.1 percentage point drop from the first half of the year and a 0.2 percentage point decrease compared to the same period last year, signaling a steady decline in overall logistics costs.

"Overall, China's logistics industry is transitioning from rapid expansion in scale to a new phase centered on enhancing quality and efficiency. This shift requires the development of new quality productive forces to meet and create new demands. By adjusting industrial structure and promoting reforms, China aims to reduce logistics costs nationwide and accelerate the transition from a logistics giant to a global logistics leader," He said.

He also pointed out that China's vast logistics industry provides essential support for developing new quality productive forces. In recent years, smart logistics has surged, driving the emergence of a number of prominent digital logistics platforms. For example, China currently has over 3,000 online freight platforms, illustrating the deep convergence of the digital and real economies fueled by the integration of massive data and diverse application scenarios.

China remains largest global logistics market, shifts focus to efficiency