Earth

Earthquakes suggest Earth's core has started spinning more slowly

Measurements of seismic waves travelling through Earth’s inner core indicate that its rotation may be slowing, switching its direction relative to the rest of the planet’s spin

By Leah Crane

23 January 2023

Illustration of Earth's structure showing the core — Earth’s dense inner core of iron may be rotating more slowly than the rest of the planet
Shutterstock/Rost9

The solid inner core of our planet may be slowing its rotation and getting ready to switch spin directions relative to the rest of the planet. This seems to be part of a cycle lasting about 60 years in which the core periodically speeds up and slows back down again.

Beneath Earth’s mantle is a churning layer of molten iron and nickel, with a dense inner core of iron kept solid by …

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Earth

Earthquakes suggest Earth's core has started spinning more slowly

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