Deep beneath our feet, the Earth’s core is a world of extreme heat and pressure. It is made of molten metals like iron, gold, and platinum.
The temperature can reach up to 6,000 degrees Celsius. The core plays a crucial role in maintaining Earth’s magnetic field.
This field protects the planet from harmful solar radiation and space weather.
A new study published in Nature suggests that the inner core of the Earth is changing shape.
Scientists previously believed that the core was solid and stable. However, recent findings indicate that it is slowly shifting from within, according to Videnskab.
John Hopper, a professor of geophysics at the University of Copenhagen, explains that American researchers have detected these internal changes.
For decades, scientists thought the inner core remained fixed. But new measurements suggest it is evolving over time.
The core’s movement is connected to seismic activity. When earthquakes occur, they send waves through the planet.
Scientists use these waves to study the structure of Earth’s interior. Until now, variations in seismic wave travel times were thought to result from the core’s slow rotation.
The new data suggests a different explanation. The core itself appears to be reshaping.
This transformation began billions of years ago when the Earth first formed. The core started as a fully liquid mass and gradually solidified.
Researchers had long assumed that this process had reached a steady state. However, the new study shows that the inner core continues to evolve.
Changes in the core’s shape occur over roughly ten-year cycles. The outer core, which remains liquid, influences these shifts.
The exact mechanisms remain unclear, but scientists believe the interactions between the liquid outer core and the solid inner core drive the changes.
There is no immediate cause for concern. The core’s protective functions, such as maintaining Earth’s magnetic field, remain intact.
Hopper reassures that any potential impact on Earth’s stability would take thousands of years to develop.
The study provides new insights into the planet’s inner workings.
Earth’s deep layers still hold many secrets, and researchers are only beginning to understand the complexity of the processes occurring beneath the surface.
