Earth’s inner core is changing shape, scientists say

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. CNN — Scientists who just months ago confirmed that Earth’s inner core recently reversed its spin have a new revelation about our planet’s deepest secrets — they identified changes to the inner core’s shape. Amplitude changes in a type of core-penetrating P wave — PKIKP waves — hinted at deformations in the inner core’s shallowest level, according to the new study. “But one guess would be that some amount of deformation is happening fairly often in many places.” As Earth’s solid inner core spins, the molten outer core churns and sloshes. “Regarding the impact on life, as mentioned in the paper’s introduction, inner core growth plays a crucial role in generating Earth’s magnetic field, which protects us from harmful solar radiation,” Miyazaki said.