What's at the center of the Earth?

Researchers think they've found the 'innermost inner core'

Earth with core visible.
(Image credit: fpm/Getty Images)

New research sheds light on the Earth's "innermost inner core," offering new insight into the formation of the planet and its magnetic field.

Like an onion, the Earth has layers. The scientific community knows about four such layers: The outer crust is the thinnest layer, and it is where we live. Below that is the thick mantle, which makes up 84 percent of Earth's volume and acts as a transition zone between the outside and inside of the planet. Deeper down are the outer core, which is made up of liquified metals including iron and nickel, and the inner core, which is the center-most layer made up of a number of metals. The inner core is dense and solid.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.