Scientists have always been intrigued by the enigmatic nature of Earth’s core. Located approximately 1,800 miles beneath the surface, this molten sphere consists primarily of iron and nickel, emitting intense heat. Notably, the core possesses distinctive characteristics, one of which is its independent rotation.

Recently, a team of researchers from Peking University in China has unveiled groundbreaking discoveries regarding the inner core of our planet. Their study reveals a significant deceleration in its spin rate. To comprehend the implications of these findings, here are three key points to consider.

1. The inner core’s rotation may be slowing down and reversing course.

The study, which was published in Nature Geoscience, reveals that Earth’s core might be undergoing a reversal in its rotation. The rotation of the core has experienced a significant slowdown, with this deceleration commencing as far back as 2009.

In their study, researchers Yi Yang and Xiaodong Song state, “We have made surprising observations that indicate the inner core has almost completely halted its rotation in the past decade. Our observations not only suggest a pause but also a slight reversal in the rotation.”

Previously, it was believed that Earth’s core was spinning at a faster rate compared to the crust. These disparities in rotation are likely influenced by the gravitational impact of Earth’s mantle on the inner core, as well as the magnetic field generated by the outer core.

2. These findings may suggest a larger pattern at work.

Given that scientists are still in the process of acquiring knowledge about the Earth’s core, it remains challenging to uncover its historical operations. Nevertheless, the findings of the study indicate the presence of a larger pattern that spans over a decade.

Through the analysis of data dating back to the 1960s, Yang and Song made a significant discovery regarding the rotation of the Earth’s inner core. They observed that from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, the rotation remained consistent. However, prior to that period, they identified a potential event of deceleration or reversal in the inner core during the early 1970s.

According to their study, the rotation is not consistently steady. Instead, it exhibits a notable rate of spin in earlier decades, followed by a much smaller rate in the most recent decade and the 1960s to 70s.

In simpler terms, the rotation of the inner core appears to fluctuate on a timescale of approximately a decade, with instances of acceleration, deceleration, and even possible reversal over a specific period. Song and Yang estimate that these transitions occur approximately every seven decades.

3. No, the world isn’t ending.

Despite the potential significant implications for life on the surface, no noticeable effects have been observed thus far. Hrvoje Tkalcic, a geophysicist at Australian National University, explained in an interview with CNN that there is no catastrophic event occurring. He stated that the inner core is now more synchronized with the rest of the planet compared to a decade ago when it spun slightly faster.

The study suggests that even small variations in Earth’s electromagnetic field and the gravitational influence of the mantle on the inner core can impact its rotation rate. However, these changes have minimal, if any, impact on life on the Earth’s surface.

Nevertheless, both Song and Yang emphasize the need for further research. Given the enigmatic nature of our planet’s core, it is highly likely that there are still many discoveries awaiting us.

This article is republished from astronomy.com under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.