A team from the Australian National University (ANU) has discovered evidence of a new fifth layer within the planet—an iron-nickel alloy sphere in the inner core. The scientists identified this hidden core by studying seismic waves that traverse the Earth’s diameter up to five times, unlike previous studies that only observed individual wave jumps. Earthquake waves probing areas near the center at specific angles suggested the presence of a different crystalline structure deep within.
The ANU researchers also propose that the inner core hints at a significant event in Earth’s past that had a profound impact on the planet’s core. As reported to The Washington Post, this discovery could also help explain the formation of Earth’s magnetic field, which plays a crucial role in supporting life by shielding the planet from harmful radiation and preventing the drift of water into space.