Unusual signal from the center of Earth frightened scientists

Something unusual is happening in the depths of our planet. Scientists have discovered that the Earth's inner core - a dense iron sphere located at a depth of more than 5000 kilometers - has suddenly changed its direction of rotation. This discovery calls into question our understanding of the stability of Earth's processes.

Vortex in the planet's depths

According to research published in Nature Geoscience, the rotation speed of the core began to decrease around 2010, and then it started moving in the opposite direction relative to the Earth's crust. Specialists attribute this to the interaction between the liquid outer core and the solid mantle surrounding it.

Signals that no one expected

A team of scientists led by Professors John Vidale and Wei Wang analyzed data from hundreds of earthquakes and nuclear tests. It turned out that the core is not just oscillating - it is performing complex, previously unnoticed movements.

"When I saw the first signals, I was amazed. Their repeatability left no doubt," shares geophysicist Vidale.

Consequences for the planet

Although the changes so far have a minimal effect on the length of the day (the difference is thousandths of a second), they may be associated with changes in Earth's magnetic field and climate processes. Additionally, according to scientists, the surface of the core is undergoing deformations.

Is Earth a living organism?

Modern technologies allow us to look into the deepest layers of our planet. Researchers are confident that we are on the threshold of new discoveries that will help us understand how Earth's internal mechanism functions and how it affects our ecosystem. The question is whether we will be able to decipher these clues before they lead to global changes.