The Earth’s core has long been a place of mystery to scientists. The core of our planet sits just over 1,800 miles below the surface and exists as a ball of seething hot metal, specifically iron and nickel. It possesses many unique qualities — including its own spin.
Now, researchers at Peking University in China have released new findings about the Earth’s inner core: its spin rate has slowed. Here are three things you need to know about their study, as well as what the results mean for us on the surface.
According to the results of the study, which was published in Nature Geoscience, the Earth’s core may be reversing its rotation. Its rotation has slowed significantly, and this slowing began all the way back in 2009.
“We show surprising observations that indicate the inner core has nearly ceased its rotation in the recent decade,” writes researchers Yi Yang ...
