For the first time, scientists have observed the shape of the inner core of the Earth changing. Researchers made this discovery by analyzing seismic waves generated by earthquakes that occurred on opposite sides of the globe. The study found that some seismic signals altered between 2004 and 2008 due to brief penetration into the inner core.
According to Xiaodong Song, a seismologist at Peking University, the changes in waveform suggest that the inner core is undergoing deformation. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of the Earth’s internal dynamics.
The research team, led by John Vidale from the University of Southern California, reported their discovery in Nature Geoscience. The study provides new insights into the dynamic nature of the inner Earth and its response to geological changes.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00395-7