In a landmark development, scientists have recalculated the age of the moon by studying crystals from the Apollo 17 mission. A study published in Geochemical Perspectives Letters suggests a revised age of 4.46 billion years, a substantial 40 million years beyond previous estimates, as reported by University of Chicago News on Monday October 23rd.

The research team, comprising members of the University of Chicago and the Field Museum, used atom probe tomography to inspect zircon crystals in lunar dust samples gathered during the 1972 Apollo mission. This allowed them to ascertain the age of the crystals at an atomic level. Jennika Greer, currently a research associate at the University of Glasgow, and Philipp Heck, the Field Museum's Robert A. Pritzker Curator for Meteoritics and Polar Studies, led the study.

The process of atom probe tomography involves using a focused ion beam microscope to finely sharpen a portion of the lunar sample. After which, UV lasers were directed at the sample's surface to evaporate atoms. These atoms then traveled through a mass spectrometer, which enabled researchers to identify atoms based on their mass. The research team examined isotope ratios to calculate radiometric dating, a method to measure transformations of elements over time.

Using this approach, the scientists confirmed that the moon is at least 4.46 billion years old. As Greer expressed it, "It's incredibly exciting to have evidence that the rock you're holding is the oldest piece of the moon we've discovered."

Before this study, co-author Bidong Zhang had speculated this age of the moon. However, the recent findings using atom probe tomography solidifies the age of the oldest-known lunar crystal, which has been detailed in the article by University of Chicago News.

A proper estimate of the moon's age can enhance our understanding of life on Earth and the history of our solar system, the moon being a significant influence on Earth's axial tilt and tides. As Heck puts it, "it’s a part of our natural system that we are keen to unravel, and our research contributes a minor yet crucial piece to this enigma."

In addition to, the researchers proposed that this discovery provides a strong reference point for lunar chronology. The moon was formed when a Mars-sized celestial body collided with Earth, resulting in an energy release that caused rocks to melt and subsequently solidify on the moon's surface. “When the surface was molten, zircon crystals couldn’t form and survive. Hence, any crystals on the moon’s surface must have formed after this lunar magma ocean cooled,” elucidated Heck.

This deeper knowledge of the moon's genesis aids in contextualizing its history, thereby enriching our understanding of not only lunar research but also Earth's relationship with it.