USC scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the nature of the Earth's enigmatic inner core, revealing for the first time that this 1,500-mile-wide ball of iron and nickel is changing.

Earth’s core is transforming, which could affect the length of our 24-hour day, Earth’s magnetic field, and more

At the center of our planet is a very hot rotating ball of mostly iron and nickel (sorry Journey to the Center of the Earth fans). Scientists infer features of this innermost geographic layer—like the fact that it’s divided into a liquid outer core and a solid inner core—by analyzing how it distorts seismic waves caused by earthquakes.