Earth’s inner core exists only because of carbon

Earth’s inner core exists only because of carbon

New research reveals that carbon made it possible for Earth’s molten core to freeze into a solid heart, stabilizing the magnetic field that protects our planet. Without it, Earth’s deep interior — and life above — might look very different.

What Scientists Just Found Inside Earth’s Core Could Rewrite Geology

Researchers have long struggled to explain how Earth’s solid inner core formed, cooled, and crystallized without undergoing extreme supercooling. But a recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that carbon may play a far more significant role than previously believed. The international team, led by scientists from the University of Oxford, University of Leeds, and University College London, used atomic-scale simulations to show tha…