Earth's Inner Core

1.Earth's Inner Core: The inner core of Earth may have changed shape in the past 20 years, according to a group of scientists.

• About: The Earth's inner core is the innermost layer of the planet, a solid sphere primarily composed of iron and nickel, located at the very center of the Earth, and is extremely hot with temperatures reaching around 5,200°C.
• Role of the Inner Core: Produces Earth's magnetic field, protecting life from the Sun’s radiation.

  o Spins independently from the outer core and the planet, and essential for sustaining life; without it, Earth could become like Mars, which lost its magnetic field.

  • Connection to Earth's Magnetic Field: Magnetic field jerks in past decades could be linked to inner core changes.
  • Possible Cause of Shape Change: Occurs where the solid inner core touches the hot, liquid outer core, driven by liquid metal flow and uneven gravity pull.
  • Seismic Wave Analysis (1991-2023): Scientists analysed earthquake shockwaves to study core changes → found inner core slowed around 2010 before speeding up again → Evidence suggests core deformation over time.
  • Long-Term Changes: Outer core is freezing into the inner core, but full solidification will take billions of years → by then, Earth may have already been swallowed by the Sun.