A recent study revealed that Earth’s inner core is slowing down, prompting scientists to investigate further. Their research led to an unexpected discovery: that inner core is not entirely solid.
Scientists from the University of Southern California (USC) analyzed data from earthquakes and identified unexpected changes in the core's composition, offering insights into why these shifts are occurring.
In June 2024, USC scientists published a study showing that Earth’s inner core has been slowing since 2010. This deceleration slightly affects the planet’s rotation, leading to marginally longer days.
“It’s very hard to notice, on the order of a thousandth of a second, almost lost in the noise of the churning oceans and atmosphere,” explained John Vidale, Dean’s Professor of Earth Sciences at USC Dornsife College.
Previously, the inner core was believed to be a solid iron-nickel sphere surrounded by a liquid iron-nickel outer core, which generates Earth’s magnetic field. Vidale ...
