emirates7 - Scientists in Milton Keynes are now studying the first samples of moon dust returned to Earth in over half a century, according to Sky News.

Professor Mahesh Anand, a planetary science and exploration expert at The Open University, is one of only seven scientists worldwide selected by China to analyze the material. Reflecting on the honor, he said, "It’s humbling to be one of the few among billions to work with such rare samples."

Anand traveled to Beijing to collect the moon rocks, which are the first to be brought back since the Soviet Luna mission in 1976. Understanding their immense value, he carried them personally in his hand luggage to ensure their safety on the return trip.

“I couldn’t risk losing them,” he told Sky News while on a train to Poole, where he planned to one of the rocks to graduating students. “Each sample is kept in a triple-sealed container and is completely isolated from Earth’s atmosphere.”

Prof. Anand has long studied lunar material, particularly the samples collected during NASA's Apollo missions, which came from the six sites where astronauts walked on the Moon.