A new type of crystal was discovered by researchers in China from the near side of the Moon.

• The newly discovered crystal was named Changesite-(Y) after the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e.
• This small and transparent crystal was found among the volcanic debris of the near side of the moon.
• It is more than a billion years old and its width is almost comparable to human hair.
• It has a unique composition and is related to other minerals found only found on the lunar surface or in meteors.
• The crystal was found among the 1.8 km of lunar rocks brought back by Chang’e-5 mission in 2020.
• These samples are the first to the delivered to the Earth from Moon since 1976 and the first ever lunar samples collected by China.