Science Saturday: Volcanoes on the moon, new planet, Boeing spacecraft and merging galaxies

Volcanoes on the moon
Volcanoes were erupting on the moon when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! The findings come from an analysis of three tiny glass beads returned by China's Chang'e-5 mission. It challenges the previous theory that lunar volcanoes became inactive around two billion years ago. It also raises the question of whether the moon is still producing magma today, raising significant implications for the evolution of the moon.

Mysterious cosmic dance

Swedish researchers have found a new planet. TOI-1408 is a small, cold exoplanet, about 455 light-years from Earth. It has a similar temperature to the sun. Unlike the steady paths traced by the planets in our solar system, its path is erratic, shifting direction unexpectedly like a "rhythmic dance" when it passes in front of its star. The discovery of a small planet between a star and a gas giant is rare. It offers a unique opportunity to explain the development of planetary systems, and help scientists identify other potentially habitable worlds.

Boeing spacecraft returns

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has landed in New Mexico, leaving its crew behind. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' mission was initially planned for just eight days when they took off aboard the Starliner in June. But technical issues have forced them to remain on the International Space Station until February 2025. NASA says it was the right decision to have Starliner come back unmanned. The mission was intended to be a final test flight before NASA certifies Boeing's spacecraft for routine missions. 

Peering back billions of years 

An international team of astronomers has spotted merging galaxies from 12.8 billion years ago. Both galaxies are extremely rich in gas, suggesting the merger will likely trigger a rapid increase in star formation, and more vigorous quasar activity. This will then create a monster galaxy, one of the brightest types of objects in the universe. The discovery can help scientists understand the evolution of galaxies and black holes in the universe's early history.