Mysterious doughnut found in molten metal of Earth's core

Scientists have found a mysterious ring-like doughnut-shaped structure in the molten metal of Earth’s core. The core is a massive ball of liquid metal existing nearly 2,890 kilometers underneath the surface of Earth.

According to researchers, the ring structure in the newly discovered doughnut lies parallel to the equator. The Journal Science Advances published this research study.

Prof. Hrvoje Tkalcic is a geophysicist from the Australian National University and co-author of this research study. He stated modern technology is not capable of reaching the Earth’s core.

*Mysterious doughnut found in Earth’s core*

Hence, they depended on seismic waves and observed shapes produced by massive earthquakes as they moved over Earth. They compared data from seismic detectors nearer the equator with data produced by devices closer to the poles.

According to Prof. Hrjove, the data showed waves began to slow down just in front of the mantle, close to the dome. They reconstructed the wave’s travel times through Earth by understanding the geometry of their pats and how they cross the volume of the outer core.

He remarked they found a region known as torus mathematically where seismic waves slow down. This looked like a doughnut to most people.

The waves detected closer to the poles were traveling faster than those near the Earth overall based on scientist’s observations. Prof. Hrvoje emphasized that research into the outer core was crucial because it generates a magnetic field that protects Earth from the sun’s continued blast of charged particles.

He also stated currents flowing through molten iron and nickel in the core to create and maintain the magnetic field. It functions like a “giant dynamo.”

*Ring-like doughnut structure may contribute to the magnetic field of Earth*

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According to Prof. Hrvoje, scientists have been confused by this dynamo’s existence for years because it is absent from other planets. Earth has a significantly larger core compared to Mars. They can also think of it as a planet within their own planet.

However, the presence of a mysterious doughnut found in Earth’s core can reveal further secrets about the existence of this dynamo.

The doughnut’s exact thickness is unknown, but scientists estimate it extends a few hundred kilometers below the core-mantle boundary. However, it is made up of lighter chemical elements including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, silicon, and sulfur.