SMRTR Science & EngineeringMay 24, 2026Scientific American

Earth’s molten outer core is behaving in chaotic, unexpected ways

SMRTR summary

Starting around 2010, a massive blob of liquid iron deep in Earth's outer core suddenly reversed direction under the Pacific Ocean, flowing east instead of its usual west — baffling scientists. This unexpected shift challenges assumptions about core stability and raises new questions about how Earth's magnetic field, which protects all life, actually works.

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