Earth's mysterious core is weirder than you think, and we're only just beginning to uncover its secrets

Fri, 09/22/2023 - 09:10

An artist's impression of what the layers inside of the earth could look like. It shows the Earth quartered to reveal the crust, upper and lower mantle, and the outer and inner core, which are glowing bright at the center of the planet. — An illustration of Earth's core.
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Earth's core has baffled researchers for decades, and it still contains many secrets.
Recent studies show this hot furnace buried deep under our feet is weirder than we think.
The inner core may be spinning, and scientists think it is encased by an ancient ocean floor.

The Earth's mysterious core is crucial to every part of life on our planet.

This furnace of molten metal, which lies about 1,800 miles beneath our feet, keeps our atmosphere intact and protects us from being bombarded by solar radiation.