Earth’s Inner Core Might Be Slowing Down and Changing Shape
Research indicates that Earth’s solid inner core, a metal sphere encased within the molten outer core, could be undergoing changes in both rotation and surface structure. Studies involving seismic waves from earthquakes have revealed that the core’s rotation may have slowed, paused or even reversed relative to Earth’s surface approximately 15 years ago. New findings presented by John Vidale, a geophysicist at the University of Southern California, during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union suggest that additional changes to the inner core’s surface could also be occurring.
Earthquake Waves Reveal Inner Core Dynamics
Insights into the inner core rely on seismic waves generated by earthquakes, as no instrument can directly access Earth’s core. According to reports, geophysicists often examine seismic waves originating from the South Sandwich Islands near Antarctica. These waves traverse the Earth, passing through its layers and arriving at recording stations such as those in Alaska. Waveform discrepancies between similar earthquakes occurring at different times indicate changes within the inner core.
Surface Changes and Deformation Hypotheses
Reportedly, Vidale and his team analysed seismic data from around 200 earthquake pairs recorded between 1991 and 2024. Discrepancies in waveforms were observed in recordings from Yellowknife, Canada but not from Fairbanks, Alaska. Vidale attributed these differences to possible deformation of the inner core’s outer surface. According to reports, the entire core might be subtly reshaping or localised regions could be swelling or contracting. These changes might be influenced by gravitational interactions with the mantle or material flow within the outer core.
Diverse Perspectives on Core Behavior
The interpretations remain debated. Lianxing Wen, a geophysicist from Stony Brook University, has suggested in a statement that surface changes alone, without rotational differences, might explain these observations. Meanwhile, Xiaodong Song of Peking University emphasised in his statement that both rotational and surface changes could be contributing factors.
Current findings remain limited in their implications for Earth’s surface, as stated in reports. Until further research clarifies the processes, the potential impact remains uncertain.
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Bronze statues, including depictions of snakes and a child priest, have been uncovered from a hot spring at San Casciano dei Bagni in Italy, according to the Italian Ministry of Culture, as per reports. The site, located around 120 kilometres northwest of Rome, has been excavated since 2019 and is believed to have been used for sacred rituals dating back to the third century B.C. The spring, originally used by the Etruscans and later adopted by the Romans, was a place where votive offerings were made in hopes of divine protection or healing, as per reports.
Discovery of Snake Statues and Other Artefacts
Bronze snake statues, some measuring up to 90 centimetres in length, were among the latest findings during the 2024 excavation, as reported by the excavation team. These statues were discovered in the deeper layers of the spring and are thought to have symbolised protection for the sacred waters. Other artefacts include a nude male figure inscribed with the name “Gaius Roscius” and a child priest holding a ball, which may have been used in divination rituals.
Preserved Organic Remains Found
The excavation also revealed well-preserved organic remains, such as eggs with visible yolks, pine cones, and plant matter. According to the Italian Ministry of Culture, in a statement, these items may have been used in rituals symbolising rebirth and regeneration. The preservation of these items is attributed to their rapid burial in sediment.
Expert Perspective
Alexandra Carpino, an art history professor at Northern Arizona University, commented in an email to Live Science that these findings are among the most significant discoveries of the 21st century. The range of artefacts provides insights into the role of healing sanctuaries in ancient societies.
Ongoing Research at the Site
Research continues at San Casciano dei Bagni, with scholars examining the inscriptions and artefacts to uncover more about the Etruscan and Roman use of the spring.
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A new pulsar, PSR J1922+37, has been discovered with a spin period of 1.92 seconds using the Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in China, according to a report. The finding was made in the direction of the open cluster NGC 6791. If confirmed as a member of this cluster, it would be the first pulsar identified in an open cluster, a breakthrough in pulsar and stellar cluster research, according to sources.
Key Details of PSR J1922+37
The finding was reported in a paper published Dec. 11 on the arXiv preprint server. As per reports, the pulsar PSR J1922+37 has been observed with a dispersion measure of 85 pc/cm³ and a flux density of approximately 7.0 µJy. Its position aligns closely with the location of NGC 6791, with an offset of 14 arcminutes from the cluster’s centre. The estimated distance of the pulsar, 15,600 light-years, is consistent with the cluster’s distance range, which is calculated to be between 13,100 and 16,000 light-years.
According to the study, led by Xiao-Jin Liu of Beijing Normal University, the dense stellar environment of NGC 6791 increases the likelihood of pulsars being present within the cluster. Researchers have suggested that precise measurements of PSR J1922+37’s distance and proper motion will be necessary to confirm its association with NGC 6791.
Potential for Further Discoveries
The researchers indicated that NGC 6791’s compact and high surface brightness environment could host additional pulsars. An estimate provided in the study predicts that as many as nine pulsars may exist within this cluster. The team noted that further observations using advanced techniques could help verify these predictions.
The report further highlights that the discovery has been described as a significant development in the understanding of pulsars within open clusters, an area of study previously limited due to low stellar density in such regions. Verification of PSR J1922+37’s cluster membership will require additional studies, including proper motion analysis to establish a definitive connection.
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