Scientists Record Unusual State of Earth's Core 0 8

Scientists have experimentally confirmed that the material in Earth's inner core possesses unique physical properties. The study showed that at extremely high temperatures and pressures, iron retains a solid crystalline structure, but lighter elements within it remain mobile. The work is published in the journal National Science Review (NSR).

According to the authors, this combination of properties explains a long-known feature of the inner core: the low speed of transverse seismic wave propagation, recorded during earthquake analysis. Previously, these observations did not fit into the classical model of a completely solid core.

To test the hypothesis, the scientists compressed an alloy of iron and carbon in laboratory conditions using high-speed impact facilities, creating pressure and temperature close to the parameters of Earth's depths. Measurements showed that the material becomes less rigid than ordinary solid iron while maintaining its crystalline framework.

The results obtained refine current understandings of Earth's structure and may help better understand processes related to the formation and alteration of the planet's magnetic field.