--- title: "Scientists Discover Mysterious Radioactive Rock on the Far Side of the Moon" description: "A large, radioactive hunk of granite was discovered beneath the lunar surface, a surprising discovery that speaks to the Moon's volcanic past." date: "2023-07-08" modified: "2023-07-08" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/mysterious-radioactive-rock-moon" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "far side of the moon" - "moon" - "radioactive" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Discover Mysterious Radioactive Rock on the Far Side of the Moon ![A large, radioactive hunk of granite was discovered beneath the lunar surface, a surprising discovery that speaks to the Moon's volcanic past.]() *\Image: NASA / Futurism\* ## Radioactive Moon Rock Scientists have discovered a large, radioactive granite formation underneath the surface of the far side of the Moon — and according to a [new paper](), this unexpected rock formation might offer researchers some clues about our Moon's long history. In the paper, which was published this week in the journal *Nature*, the researchers posit that the existence of the subsurface granite suggests that the less-studied [far side of the Moon](), which always faces away from the Earth, once housed one or several volcanoes, which erupted around 3.5 billion years ago early in the Moon's history. "Any big body of granite that we find on Earth used to feed a big bunch of volcanoes," said study co-author Matthew Siegler, a Southern Methodist University professor and Planetary Science Institute researcher, in a [statement](). ## Taken for Granite Subsurface igneous rock deposits left behind by cooling volcanoes called batholiths "are much bigger than the volcanoes they feed on the surface," added Siegler. "For example, the Sierra Nevada mountains are a batholith, left from a volcanic chain in the western United States that existed long ago." To determine the chemical makeup of the radioactive lunar deposit, the researchers used microwave frequencies to measure the compound's geothermal activity. They were able to deduce from the data that the deposit contained certain radioactive elements that could only be attributed to granite. Still, the results were a bit of a surprise. Though the region of the Moon where the mystery rock was discovered — often referred to as the Compton-Belkovich "[anomaly]()" — contains a known volcanic complex, granite has rarely been found on the Moon. The newly-discovered hunk of granite, however, is pretty huge and measures over 30 miles in diameter. "The surprising magnitude and geographic extent of this feature imply an Earth-like, evolved granitic system larger than believed possible on the Moon," the researchers wrote in the paper. Despite the fascinating new findings, scientists may be left with more questions than answers. "If you don't have water it takes extreme situations to make granite," Siegler said. "So, here's this system with no water, and no plate tectonics — but you have granite. Was there water on the moon — at least in this one spot? Or was it just especially hot?" **More on the Moon:** [*NASA Says There May Be Life on the Moon after All*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()