Dear MEL
Topic Readers,
New
candidate for 'missing element' in Earth's core
What’s
in the core of our planet?
Before
thinking or guessing the answer to this question, you may want to know what “the
core” is. According to simple.wikipedia, the outer core is a liquid layer about
a little over 2,000 kilometers thick and made of 90% iron, 5% nickel, and the
rest unknown. To reach the boundary of this region, you need to dig nearly
3,000 kilometers from the surface. It doesn’t sound feasible to send a drone to
investigate the elements, at least in a foreseeable future.
So how
could you discover, or predict what’s inside the core? Scientists use artificially
created earthquake-like waves and study how the waves pass the region. And Japanese
scientists made a guess of the unknown element, composed alloys and tested them
with the waves.
It seems
landing on the surface of other planets is easier than reaching the core of our
own planet, doesn’t it?
Enjoy
reading and thinking if humans ever reach Earth’s inner core.
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