Unveiling Earth's Inner Core: Surprising Textured and Heterogeneous Structure

Researchers from the University of Utah have used seismic waves from earthquakes to study Earth's inner core, a solid metal sphere responsible for the planet's magnetic field. The study reveals that the inner core is not a homogenous mass but rather a textured fabric, with inhomogeneity becoming stronger towards the center of the Earth. This research provides new insights into the formation and evolution of Earth's inner core, which remains a mystery. The findings were made possible by analyzing seismic data recorded by a global network of seismometers and shed light on the deepest reaches of our planet.