Space travel has always been a preoccupation of the intellectually curious and advancing human race. However, as we learn more about the universe we are also left aware of how little we may know about our own planet.

Cue a recent revelation that the Earth may have an inner core, the consistency and make up of which we are utterly clueless about!

Scientists have, for a long time, suspected that there may be a hidden layer between the iron and nickel inner cores, and a recent study provides the most concrete evidence for just that. Appearing in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, the study could help to rewrite textbooks and change our understanding of the ground we are standing upon. The inner core could also provide key answers to questions of how Earth’s protective magnetic field formed and much more!