New research has identified a new restriction on the chemistry involved in the Earth’s core, explaining how it was able to crystallize millions of years ago. According to this work, the core would have needed to be made of 3.8 percent carbon for crystallization to begin, which means carbon is likely far more abundant in the core than previously believed. This is a rare insight into the processes that formed the heart of our planet. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

The core is the iron-rich mass at the center of the planet that plays an important role in determining the structure and dynamics of the Earth’s deep interior. The core is not a static mass ; it’s actually gradually growing as the molten outer layers cool and

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