For a long time, scientists thought the Earth's inner core was a solid ball of metal, sort of like a planet within a planet that sits some 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) below the surface.

The Earth's inner core, long considered a solid and stable sphere, may be quite different. A recent study suggests that its surface is undergoing structural transformations, challenging our ...

In a nutshell Scientists have discovered that Earth’s inner core isn’t just changing its rotation speed – it’s actually deforming at its surface. This is the first time such structural ...

The planet’s inner core was previously thought of as a hard, solid sphere. But a new study has found that its edges are softer than realized and actually changing shape.

The inner core is usually thought to be shaped like a ball, but its edges may actually have deformed by 100 meters or more in height in places, according to Prof. John Vidale, who led the research.

In June 2024, USC scientists published a study showing that Earth’s inner core has been slowing since 2010. This deceleration slightly affects the planet’s rotation, leading to marginally longer days.

Deep at the center of the Earth, our planet’s inner core is spinning, growing and—according to new research—shape-shifting. A new study published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience ...

Earth’s inner core isn’t just slowing; it’s also shape-shifting, study finds A new study from USC scientists reveals Earth’s inner core is undergoing structural transformation.

Researchers studying decades of earthquake data say they have found the first evidence that, in addition to spinning backward, Earth’s inner core in changing shape.

They found that the inner core once spun faster than Earth itself. But beginning around 2010, the solid inner core’s spin slowed. It’s now revolving backward, relative to the rest of the planet.

Earth's inner core is undergoing structural transformation. Located 3,000 miles below the Earth's surface, the inner core is anchored by gravity within the molten liquid outer core. Until now the ...