In a discovery that blurs the line between materials science and planetary geology, Chinese researchers have identified naturally formed single-walled carbon nanotubes within lunar samples, marking the first time such structures have been confirmed to exist beyond Earth without human intervention.

The finding comes from a systematic analysis of soil returned by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon. A team from Jilin University, using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy, confirmed the presence of both the nanotubes and graphite carbon. The research suggests these materials likely formed through a complex, iron-catalyzed process involving a combination of micro-meteorite impacts, volcanic activity, and solar wind radiation over the moon’s history.

"This reveals nature's capability to synthesize key materials under extreme conditions," stated a release from the China National Space Administration. The presence of these carbon structures, particularly with more defective features compared to samples from the moon's near side returned by the earlier Chang’e-5 mission, hints at a more intense bombardment history for the lunar far side.

The discovery provides a new, tangible clue in understanding the moon's geological asymmetry and internal thermal evolution. It also opens a novel perspective for studying high-energy physical-chemical processes on airless bodies and could inform future in-situ resource utilization strategies for deep space exploration.Editor/Cao Tianyi