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.