How the Moon could unlock our own planet’s past

Rebecca MorelleScience editor The Moon was born from the Earth. About 4.5bn years ago, a huge Mars-sized body smashed into our planet, blasting off debris that then coalesced to form our celestial neighbour. This means the Moon’s history is also our own - but this ancient archive is much better preserved in the lunar rocks. With no plate tectonics, wind and rain, and oceans and vegetation to wipe this archive away, the Moon is a perfect time capsule. Scientists are eagerly awaiting the images an