In a stunning discovery, scientists have found a gigantic solid metal ball at the center of the Earth. The ball, which is about 400 miles wide, is made of iron and nickel and is thought to have formed billions of years ago.

The discovery was made by a team of seismologists at the Australian National University. They were studying the way seismic waves travel through the Earth’s interior when they noticed something strange. The waves were traveling faster through the inner core than they were in the surrounding liquid outer core.

This led the researchers to believe that there must be a solid layer inside the inner core. They confirmed this by analyzing data from about 200 earthquakes that had occurred in the past decade.

The discovery of the solid inner core is a major breakthrough in our understanding of the Earth’s interior. It provides new insights into how the Earth’s magnetic field is generated and how the Earth’s core has evolved over time.

The researchers believe that the solid inner core may have formed billions of years ago, when the Earth’s core was still molten. As the core cooled, the iron and nickel began to solidify, forming a solid ball at the center of the Earth.

The solid inner core is thought to play a vital role in generating the Earth’s magnetic field. The Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the motion of the liquid outer core. The solid inner core acts as a barrier, preventing the liquid outer core from mixing with the solid inner core. This allows the liquid outer core to flow freely, which generates the Earth’s magnetic field.

The discovery of the solid inner core is a major step forward in our understanding of the Earth’s interior. It provides new insights into how the Earth works and how it has evolved over time. It is also a reminder of the vastness and complexity of our planet.

Research paper