Scientists left baffled after making discovery about Earth's core that could change everything they knew
Scientists at the University of Southern California have discovered the Earth's core is changing shape after analysing earthquake data.
Scientists Detect Shape-Shifting Along Earth’s Solid Inner Core
Scientists of course cannot cut into Earth and directly observe its insides. Instead, their knowledge is inferred from the vibrations generated by earthquakes that pass through the planet. The speed and the direction of the seismic vibrations change depending on the density and the elasticity of the rocks.
Earth’s inner core is less solid than we thought
Earth’s core is located below the middle layer called the mantle and the outer layer –or crust. It consists of two main parts–a liquid outer core and a more solid inner core. The outer layer is made of liquid iron-nickel and is responsible for producing Earth’s magnetic field.
Earth's inner core is changing. Here's what the study has found
Recent research suggests Earth's inner core, primarily composed of iron and nickel, may not be entirely solid. Scientists observed shape alterations at the inner core's outer boundary, potentially due to outer core turbulence.
Forces deep underground seem to be deforming Earth's inner core
Seismic waves suggest the planet's solid inner core is being pulled out of shape – and it has undergone these changes over just a few decades
Earth's inner core may have changed shape, say scientists
The inner core is usually thought to be shaped like a ball, but its edges may actually have deformed by 100m or more in height in places, according to Prof John Vidale who led the research. Earth's core is the beating heart of our planet as it produces a magnetic field that protects life from burning up in the Sun's radiation.
Earth's inner core is less solid than previously thought: Study reveals structural transformation
The surface of the Earth's inner core may be changing, as shown by a new study by USC scientists that detected structural changes near the planet's center, published in Nature Geoscience.
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