The inner core of Earth is the planet’s solid, innermost region, composed primarily of iron with minor nickel and light elements, extending from about 1,220 km radius to the center. It is characterized by extreme pressures (over 330 GPa) and temperatures comparable to the solar surface, yet remains solid due to pressure-induced freezing. Seismic wave studies reveal anisotropy, suggesting preferential crystal alignment, likely of hexagonal close-packed iron. The inner core plays a critical role in geodynamo processes through latent heat release and compositional convection at the inner core boundary, influencing the structure and dynamics of the surrounding liquid outer core.
While Earth's core consists mostly of iron, its density implies that lighter elements are also mixed in. Because hydrogen is abundant in the universe and can mix with iron under certain conditions, scientists suspect it makes ...
It was a journey to the center of the Earth, if only for the briefest of moments. But rather than tunneling thousands of miles from Earth's surface, researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and several ...
Condensed Matter
Jul 7, 2026
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The liquid iron in Earth's outer core doesn't always behave as expected. When it changed direction in an unexplained way, ESA satellites provided data on the direction of flow, helping scientists gain better insight into ...
Planetary Sciences
May 22, 2026
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Warm dense matter is a state of matter that forms at extreme temperatures and pressures, like those found at the center of most stars and many planets, including Earth. It also plays a role in the generation of Earth's magnetic ...
Plasma Physics
Dec 19, 2025
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An international research team may have found an explanation for seismic anomalies, the noticeable deviations in the behavior of earthquake waves, in Earth's inner core.
Earth Sciences
Dec 10, 2025
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The iron-rich core at the center of our planet has been a crucial part of Earth's evolution. The core not only powers the magnetic field which shields our atmosphere and oceans from solar radiation, it also influences plate ...
Planetary Sciences
Sep 17, 2025
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Scientists have discovered that Mars has an interior structure similar to Earth's. Results from NASA's InSight mission suggest that the red planet has a solid inner core surrounded by a liquid outer core, potentially resolving ...
Planetary Sciences
Sep 7, 2025
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A study by researchers at the University of Oxford, University of Leeds, and University College London has identified a new constraint on the chemistry of Earth's core, by showing how it was able to crystallize millions of ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 4, 2025
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Scientists revealed Wednesday that Mars' innermost core appears to be a solid hunk of metal just like Earth's.
Planetary Sciences
Sep 3, 2025
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Earth's largest gold reserves are not kept inside Fort Knox, the United States Bullion Depository. In fact, they are hidden much deeper in the ground than one would expect. More than 99.999% of Earth's stores of gold and ...
Earth Sciences
May 22, 2025
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