Researchers Say Life May Have Existed on the Moon A new study cites two time periods during the moon's distant past when its conditions were
potentially habitable. The new research relied on data from space missions and analysis of rock and soil samples from the moon. Shortly after it was formed 4 billion years ago, the moon was releasing water vapor and other volatile gases in mass quantities. Around 3.5 billion years ago, volcanic activity on the moon also reached a peak. On both occasions, these gases would have created liquid water pools on the moon's surface as well as a dense atmosphere. Right now, the moon doesn't have an atmosphere but a very thin layer of gases, including sodium and potassium.