Basal magma oceans could power magnetic shields on super-Earths, boosting habitability

A Nature Astronomy study suggests that some super-Earths (about 3–6 times Earth's mass) may sustain long‑lived magnetic fields not from a core dynamo but from a basal magma ocean layer between the core and mantle, potentially protecting atmospheres and improving habitability; while detecting such fields remains challenging, future observations could test this BMO‑driven dynamo scenario.