[Rockhounds] Earth's inner core may have changed shape, say scientists

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

The inner core of Earth may have changed shape in the past 20 years,
according to a group of scientists.

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

Earth's core is the beating heart of our planet as it produces a magnetic
field that protects life from burning up in the Sun's radiation.

The inner core spins independently from the liquid outer core and from the
rest of the planet. Without this motion, Earth would die and become more
like barren Mars which lost its magnetic field billions of years ago.

The change in shape could be happening where the edge of the solid inner
core touches the extremely hot liquid metal outer core.

The research is published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience. The
scientists were originally trying to find out why the inner core may have
slowed down to a slower pace than Earth's rotation before speeding back up
again in 2010.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gx37ky3gyo