Mysterious giant object is 'squirming' inside the Earth
A new discovery from ETH Zurich is changing long-held understanding of the Earth's interior, revealing the existence of a solid mass of rock deep beneath our feet.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•11/07/2025
Specifically, the region 2,700–3,000 km deep below the Earth's surface does not contain molten material as previously thought, but a giant mass of solid rock that is silently moving. This area in the D layer – the boundary between the mantle and core – is surprising because it speeds up seismic waves as they pass through, suggesting special material.
Perovskite minerals in the lower mantle transform into "post-perovskite" under extreme conditions near the D layer, affecting seismic wave properties.
The new computer model shows that only when the post-perovskite crystals are oriented in the same direction do the seismic waves accelerate – something that only happens if the material is solid. This solid rock can "flow" very slowly, at a steady rate, helping to maintain the crystalline structure necessary to create unusual seismic phenomena. The discovery paves the way for mapping deep-seated currents in the Earth, leading to a better understanding of volcanic activity, plate tectonics and the planet's magnetic field.
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