World of difference: Shock discovery changes what we always thought we knew about Earth
Australian scientists have made a ground-breaking discovery deep below the Earth’s surface.
Their research confirms a 20-year-old hypothesis by revealing the planet, much like a Kinder Surprise, has a hard, indelible mass at its centre.
Beneath the planetās well-known crunchy crust, molten mantle, and creamy outer and inner core, scientists found a surprise fifth layer comprised of a solid metallic ball.
Australian National University researcher Professor Hrvoje TkalÄiÄ says the discovery reveals a lot about the planetās evolution.
āItās a fossilised record that serves as a gateway into the events of our planetās past,ā he said.
Researchers made the discovery by analysing seismic waves journeying to the centre of the Earth, according to their findings released on Wednesday.
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In one instance, an earthquake from Alaska triggered seismic waves in the south Atlantic, before bouncing back to its origin.
Using this information, scientists examined the speed and trajectory of the waves and found evidence of a hard metal mass made from an iron-nickel alloy.
The new research, published in Nature Communications, suggests a major global event occurred during the Earthās evolution that caused a significant change in the texture of the planetās core.
But TkalÄiÄ says there is much more to learn.
āThere are still many unanswered questions about the Earthās innermost inner core, which could hold the secrets to piecing together the mystery of our planetās formation.ā
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