NEWS – Recent studies indicate the Earth’s inner core has slowed down significantly, possibly reversing its rotation direction

HIGHLIGHTS

The inner core:

• Located at Earth’s center, about 5,150 kilometers beneath the surface.
• Composed of solid iron and nickel, making up 20% of Earth’s mass.
• Radius of approximately 759 miles, extremely hot with temperatures from 7200–9000℉.
• Sustained by heat from radioactive decay, residual planetary formation heat, and solidification of the outer core.
• Surrounded by a superhot molten outer core and then the mantle and crust.
• Generates its magnetic field, influencing Earth’s magnetic field and geodynamo.
• Under immense pressure of about 3.6 million atmospheres, remaining solid despite high temperatures.

The inner core’s recent slowdown and possible reversal in rotation direction raise new questions about Earth’s core dynamics and magnetic field generation.