New research from China's Chang’e 6 Mission reveals that the moon's "late heavy bombardment" period began at least 100 million years earlier than previously believed. Samples from the Apollo basin indicate its formation 4.16 billion years ago, shifting understanding of the moon's early history.

• The late heavy bombardment is now dated to at least 4.16 billion years ago, not between 3.8 to 4 billion years ago.
• The study was led by academician Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
• Researchers analyzed three impact-melt fragments, ranging from 150 to 300 micrometers, considered ideal "geological clocks" for lunar impact records.