Researchers have discovered a solid inner core of Mars with a radius of 600 km

Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of Texas (USA) analyzed seismic data from NASA’s InSight mission and stated that Mars has a solid inner core with a radius of about 600 km. According to the authors’ estimate, this mass makes up about 18% of the planet’s radius.

The study shows that light elements — carbon, oxygen and hydrogen — have accumulated inside the core, crystallizing and separating from the outer liquid layer. This contradicts previous notions of an entirely liquid Martian core and helps explain the cessation of the geodynamo, which caused the planet to lose its global magnetic field.

According to the authors of the study published in the journal Nature, the new findings are important for understanding the thermal and chemical state of Mars and shed light on the stages of its formation and evolution. For the residents of Northern Cyprus this discovery carries no direct practical consequences, but it is significant for planning future Martian missions and the long-term development of planetary science.