Core Findings - The research team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has determined that the Apollo Basin, located within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, formed 4.16 billion years ago, pushing back the start of the late heavy bombardment period by at least 100 million years [1][2] - This finding contradicts the traditional hypothesis of a sudden increase in impact intensity during the late heavy bombardment, providing a clearer understanding of the early solar system's tumultuous history [1][2] Research Methodology - The team analyzed a 3.5-gram lunar soil sample from the Chang'e 6 mission, identifying three small rock fragments (150-350 micrometers) that formed under high temperatures during the basin's creation, acting as a "time capsule" [2] - By accurately dating these fragments and integrating remote sensing images and geochemical data, the researchers confirmed the age of the Apollo Basin as 4.16 billion years, resolving the "rock clock" mystery [2] Implications of Findings - The precise age of the Apollo Basin serves as a critical anchor point for understanding the impact history of the solar system, allowing scientists to reconstruct a more complete narrative of solar system dynamics [2] - This discovery also sheds light on Earth's early history, suggesting that as a planet closer to the Sun, Earth may have experienced more intense bombardment, potentially influencing the origin and evolution of life [2][3]

Group 1: Aerospace Achievements - The successful launch of the Lijian-1 rocket on August 19, 2023, marked a significant milestone in China's aerospace capabilities, achieving an integrated process of assembly, testing, and launch, which enhances efficiency and reduces preparation time to 7-10 days [1] - The Chang'e 6 mission has advanced the understanding of the Moon's geological history by determining that the Apollo Basin formed 4.16 billion years ago, pushing back the timeline of the Moon's "impact storm" by at least 100 million years [3] Group 2: Agricultural Advancements - China's early rice yield has reached a historic high, with an average yield surpassing 400 kg per mu, demonstrating resilience against adverse weather conditions [5][7] Group 3: Energy and Infrastructure Developments - The construction of a 300 MW advanced compressed air energy storage facility in Henan has reached 50% completion, expected to generate 420 million kWh annually, enhancing local energy efficiency and reliability [13] - The completion of the Daxie Petrochemical Integration Project in Ningbo has established China's largest petrochemical base, with an ethylene production capacity exceeding 10 million tons [15] - The discovery of 1650.25 billion cubic meters of shale gas reserves in the Hongxing shale gas field signifies the establishment of China's first large-scale shale gas field, contributing positively to national energy security [18] - The Daqin Railway has surpassed a cumulative freight volume of 9 billion tons, playing a crucial role in coal transportation across China [19] Group 4: Technological Innovations - The establishment of China's first automotive lightning effect testing platform aims to ensure the functionality of new energy vehicles under high voltage and strong magnetic field conditions [11] - A breakthrough in solid-state cooling materials was achieved with the observation of "full-temperature pressure card effect" in a potassium hexafluorophosphate material, paving the way for new environmentally friendly cooling technologies [11]

Core Findings - A Chinese research team has accurately determined that the Apollo Basin on the Moon formed 4.16 billion years ago, marking a significant advancement in lunar geological studies [1] - This discovery pushes the timeline for the beginning of the Moon's "impact bombardment" period forward by at least 100 million years, enhancing the understanding of the evolution of the Earth-Moon system [1]

Core Findings - The research team led by Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry has accurately determined that the Apollo Basin on the Moon formed 4.16 billion years ago, providing key evidence for the Late Heavy Bombardment in the solar system [1][2] - This new finding advances the timeline for the onset of the Late Heavy Bombardment by at least 100 million years, challenging the previous hypothesis of a catastrophic increase in impact flux during 4 to 3.8 billion years ago [2] Research Methodology - The team analyzed 3.5 grams of lunar soil, discovering three rock fragments with diameters between 150 and 350 micrometers, which are ideal "rock clocks" that record impact events [1] - The age of the rock fragments was confirmed through a combination of remote sensing images and geochemical data, leading to the conclusion that the impact flux during the Late Heavy Bombardment was gradually decreasing rather than experiencing a sudden increase [2]

Core Viewpoint - The research team led by Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry has accurately determined that the Apollo basin on the Moon formed 4.16 billion years ago, providing crucial evidence for understanding the late heavy bombardment in the solar system [1][2]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study published in the journal Nature Astronomy reveals that the age of the Apollo basin has been pushed forward by at least 100 million years, updating the timeline for the onset of the late heavy bombardment [2]. - The research indicates that the impact flux during the late heavy bombardment period shows a gradual decline, contradicting the hypothesis of a sudden increase in impact flux between 4 billion and 3.8 billion years ago [2]. Group 2: Methodology - The team analyzed 3.5 grams of lunar soil, discovering three rock fragments with diameters of 150-350 micrometers, which are ideal "rock clocks" that record impact events [1]. - The age determination of the rock fragments was achieved by integrating remote sensing images and geochemical data, confirming the 4.16 billion-year age for the Apollo basin [2].

Core Findings - Chinese scientists have accurately determined that the Apollo Basin on the Moon formed 4.16 billion years ago, providing key evidence for understanding the timing of the Moon's "Late Heavy Bombardment" period [2][3] - The research was conducted by a team led by Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, in collaboration with Sun Yat-sen University, the University of Hong Kong, and international partners [2] - The study's findings were published in the international scientific journal Nature Astronomy [2] Research Details - The research team analyzed a 3.5-gram lunar soil sample from the Chang'e 6 mission, identifying three unique rock fragments ranging from 150 to 350 micrometers in size, which are ideal "rock clocks" for recording impact events [2] - The age of the rock fragments was accurately measured, confirming that the 4.16 billion-year age corresponds to the formation of the Apollo Basin [2] - The Apollo Basin, with a diameter of approximately 540 kilometers, is the largest secondary impact structure within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, closely related to the "Late Heavy Bombardment" period [3]

Core Findings - Chinese scientists have accurately dated the formation of the Apollo basin on the Moon to 4.16 billion years ago, providing crucial evidence for the timing of the Late Heavy Bombardment period [1][2] - The research was published in the international journal Nature Astronomy, highlighting the significance of the findings in understanding lunar geological history [1] Research Details - The Apollo basin, with a diameter of approximately 540 kilometers, is the largest secondary impact structure within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, closely related to the Late Heavy Bombardment [1] - The research team, led by Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Xu Yigang, discovered three unique rock fragments, sized between 150 to 350 micrometers, in just 3.5 grams of lunar soil [1] - These rock fragments are considered ideal "rock clocks" that record impact events during the formation of the Apollo basin [1][2]