Earth’s water comes from within

Earth’s water comes from within

A new study published recently in Earth and Planetary Science Letters suggests that much of our planet's water comes from within, rather than arriving from space through collisions with ice-rich comets. The study also suggests that chemical reactions responsible…

Water reservoir detected 1 000 km below Earth’s surface

Water reservoir detected 1 000 km below Earth’s surface

Scientists have discovered water about 1 000 km (620 miles) below the Earth's surface. The discovery suggests our planet's mantle may contain much more water, and at much bigger depths, than previously thought. The water reservoir was found about one-third…

Earth’s mantle moves up and down “like a yo-yo”

Earth’s mantle moves up and down “like a yo-yo”

Researchers have compiled the first global set of observations of the movement of the Earth’s mantle – the 3000-km-thick layer (1 864 miles) of hot silicate rocks between the crust and the core – and found that it is moving much faster than has…

New research indicates different composition of Earth’s mantle

New research indicates different composition of Earth’s mantle

Seismic observations of our planet's interior have revealed three distinct structures, marking the boundary between its metallic core and silicate mantle. The structures include remnants of subducted plates from the Earth's surface, ultralow velocity zones…