The Earth’s inner core is a total mystery – here’s how we’re starting to solve it

By Alfred Wilson-Spencer, Research fellow of Mineral Physics, University of Leeds

Deep beneath our feet, at a staggering depth of over 5,100km, lies Earth’s inner core — a solid ball of iron and nickel that plays a crucial role in shaping the conditions we experience on the surface. In fact, without it we’d be unlikely to even exist.

But despite its significance, it’s a bit of a puzzle how it formed and developed. We don’t even know how old it is. Luckily, mineral physics is bringing us closer to solving the mystery.

The inner core is responsible for Earth’s magnetic field, which acts like a shield, protecting us from harmful solar radiation. This magnetic…

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