The young scientist stressed that many scientific problems can be solved only when the lunar soil is studied. For instance, scientists can better understand the remote sensing data when comparing them with actual lunar samples.

When the sixth batch of lunar research samples was open for application earlier this year, Qian, with the support of Joseph Michalski, associate professor of HKU's Department of Earth Sciences, formed a team including experts specializing in tectonic processes and the evolution of the Earth's lithosphere, volcanic hazards, evolution of old continents, crustal growth and tectonic evolution, and some other relevant fields.

The competition for lunar soil application was fierce. When the results of the application were announced in June, with HKU being one of the units approved to borrow lunar soil for research purposes, Qian was overjoyed. He believed that in addition to a strong team of scientists, HKU's advanced equipment is also one of the reasons it stands out.

Using state-of-the-art instruments, the HKU geologists will analyze the lunar samples, which will offer valuable insights into the moon's geological and thermal history, its connection to the formation and evolution of planetary bodies in the solar system.