Could Earth’s Gravity Have Kept Ancient Lunar Volcanoes Active?

The Moon We Thought Was Silent

We have long looked at the Moon as a static, cold celestial body that has undergone little change since its early formation about 4.5 billion years ago following a massive collision that nearly tore the young Earth apart. According to the laws of classical physics, the Moon was supposed to lose its internal heat at a tremendous rate, causing any geological activity in its interior to halt early on and turning it into a dead rock drifting through space.

The Surprise of the Chang’e 5 Probe

However, the winds of science did not blow as the old models wished. In recent years, China’s Chang’e 5 space mission brought unique rock samples from the lunar surface back to Earth. Striking laboratory analyses of these rocks showed that they formed only about two billion years ago, and even more surprisingly, their chemical and mineral nature clearly points to a purely volcanic origin. This means the lunar core was pulsating with life and fire at a time when it was supposed to be completely dormant.

Earth’s Gravity: The Secret Word

How did lunar volcanism stay alive billions of years after its center cooled? Scientists today offer a surprising answer pointing back to Earth’s gravity. In the Moon’s early eras, it was in an orbit much closer to our parent planet, and the massive tidal forces resulting from Earth’s strong gravity exerted immense mechanical pressures on the lunar interior, creating continuous internal friction that generated massive heat sufficient to melt rocks and keep volcanic magma flowing through its veins.

A New Window for Understanding Solar System Planets

This groundbreaking discovery not only changes our understanding of the Moon’s history alone, but it also opens new horizons for understanding how planetary bodies interact with each other through gravity. It reminds us that the universe is full of surprises, and that even our closest celestial neighbors hide untold secrets.

By: Hany Sallam

Source: phys.org

Published by Hany Sallam

Hany Sallam, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Scientific Magazine Ahram
An independent Arabic science magazine operating since 2008, dedicated to simplifying science, technology, space, natural phenomena and scientific stories for Arabic readers. The magazine includes sections such as “Zodiac Group” and “Stories and Tales”, alongside science topics that combine knowledge with a spirit of discovery. It operates independently and is not affiliated with Al-Ahram Press Foundation or any governmental body.