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.

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 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.

Kateryna Kon / Science Photo Library via Getty Images Deep at the center of the Earth, our planet’s inner core is spinning, growing and—according to new research—shape-shifting.

The inner core rotates independently of the liquid outer core and the rest of the planet, creating a dynamic motion that is essential for maintaining Earth's magnetic field.

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.

The surface of Earth's inner core may be shape-shifting, new research suggests. The study, published Feb. 10 in the journal Nature, looked at earthquake waves that have skimmed the edge of the inner ...