Earth, Inner Core

Earth’s inner core isn’t just slowing, it’s also shape-shifting, study finds
USC scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the nature of the Earth's enigmatic inner core, revealing for the first time that this 1,500-mile-wide ball of iron and nickel is changing.
Scientists Detect Shape-Shifting Along Earth’s Solid Inner Core
Scientists of course cannot cut into Earth and directly observe its insides. Instead, their knowledge is inferred from the vibrations generated by earthquakes that pass through the planet. The speed and the direction of the seismic vibrations change depending on the density and the elasticity of the rocks.
‘It’s almost science fiction’: Scientists say the shape of Earth’s inner core is changing
Researchers studying decades of earthquake data say they have found the first evidence that, in addition to spinning backward, Earth’s inner core in changing shape.
Scientists discover Earth's inner core isn't just slowing down — it's also changing shape
The surface of Earth's inner core appears to be dynamic, changing shape as it rotates, earthquake waves reveal.
Earth’s inner core is less solid than we thought
Earth’s core is located below the middle layer called the mantle and the outer layer –or crust. It consists of two main parts–a liquid outer core and a more solid inner core. The outer layer is made of liquid iron-nickel and is responsible for producing Earth’s magnetic field.
Earth’s Inner Core Has Warped Over the Past Two Decades, Scientists Say
At the center of our planet is a very hot rotating ball of mostly iron and nickel (sorry Journey to the Center of the Earth fans). Scientists infer features of this innermost geographic layer—like the fact that it’s divided into a liquid outer core and a solid inner core—by analyzing how it distorts seismic waves caused by earthquakes.
Earth's inner core may have changed shape, say scientists
The inner core of Earth may have changed shape in the past 20 years, according to a group of scientists. The inner core is usually thought to be shaped like a ball, but its edges may actually have deformed by 100m or more in height in places, according to Prof John Vidale who led the research.
Scientists discover yet another change to Earth’s inner core: its shape
Scientists found that the inner core’s structure changes as it rotates. It deforms at its border, potentially accumulating more material in some areas and less in others — almost like creating hills and valleys.
Earth’s inner core undergoing structural changes, affecting length of days
The study analyzed decades of seismic data, including recordings of repeating earthquakes near Antarctica between 1991 and 2024.
Earth's inner core is less solid than previously thought: Study reveals structural transformation
The surface of the Earth's inner core may be changing, as shown by a new study by USC scientists that detected structural changes near the planet's center, published in Nature Geoscience.
Earth's Inner Core Appears To Have Changed Shape In The Last Two Decades
A new study has found evidence that the Earth's inner core may have changed shape. Far from taking place over geological timescales, the changes appear to have taken place within the last two decades.
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Forces deep underground seem to be deforming Earth's inner core
Seismic waves suggest the planet's solid inner core is being pulled out of shape – and it has undergone these changes over ...
New study: Earth's 'beating heart' may have deformed at some places
Like the ‘core’ of most things, the Earth’s inner core is like the heart of the planet. It produces a magnetic field that ...
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The Ticking Clock of Earth’s Core Collapse
Understanding Earth’s Core Earth's core is the heart of our planet; it's a fiery furnace where temperatures soar higher than ...