US and Chinese researchers have discovered evidence of volcanic activity on the far side of the Moon, with volcanic rock fragments dating back over 4.2 billion years.

Samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission, the first from this side of the Moon, revealed a “surprisingly young” eruption around 2.83 billion years ago.

This discovery sheds new light on the Moon’s geology, as the far side remains largely unexplored.

The findings, published in Nature and Science, are significant for lunar and planetary science, the BBC has reported.

The Moon’s far side, though often called the “dark side,” is actually sunlit but remains hidden from Earth due to its tidal lock.

Written by B.C. Begley