Geologists Claim Earth May Be Softer Around The Middle Than Previously Thought

A new geological study is suggesting that what we know about the lower mantle of the Earth may have to be reevaluated. Since we are unable to actually sample the Earth at those depths, scientists rely on the use of seismic waves to study the lower reaches of the Earth. This new study suggests that material in the lower mantle has unusual characteristics that make sound move more slowly, suggesting a softer makeup than previously thought. "What's most important for seismology is the acoustic properties--the propagation of sound. We determined the elasticity of ferropericlase through the pressure-induced high-spin to low-spin transition. We did this by measuring the velocity of acoustic waves propagating in different directions in a single crystal of the material and found that over an extended pressure range (from about 395,000 to 590,000 atmospheres) the material became 'softer'--that is, the waves slowed down more than expected from previous work. Thus, at high temperature corresponding distributions will become very broad, which will result in a wide range of depth having subtly anomalous properties that perhaps extend through most of the lower mantle."

Comments

Perhaps it should try

[Lucas123]

Jenny Craig. It worked for Pluto.

Re:Perhaps it should try

[pilgrim23]

BAH! and you call yourself Scientists! Global Warming only happens to keep the Earth Egg properly nurtured until it cracks open vomiting the spawn of the Old Ones into the chaos. Don't worry though; it will only happen when the middle of the Earth starts thinning measurably and... oh dear...

It gets older - it gets fatter!

[Anonymous Coward]

Makes sense - it gets older - it gets fatter - softer in the middle :-)

Soft in the middle.

[AndGodSed]

And chewy too!

Here it comes

[Anonymous Coward]

Waiting patiently for all of the self proclaimed geologists on this site to start spouting BS. You're all experts on everything else... Don't let me down.

Re:Here it comes

[macbeth66]

I like doing this to creationists, too.

Why do you like picking on the mentally challenged?

Well duh!

[Brandybuck]

Well duh! As I get older I get softer around the middle too!

Middleaged earth

[butterwise]

Softer around the middle, thinning ice sheets - sounds like somebody's getting older...

Earth!

[Daishiman]

Earth!
Now with delicious soft filling and an irresistably crunchy core!

Jawbreaker

[4D6963]

I said it before and I'll say it again, the Earth is a giant micro-waved jawbreaker, and it's warming up! Y'all laughed at me, just wait until you get licked to death by the giant tongue from outer space, or burnt to death once it explodes.

Welcome

[Capt James McCarthy]

To middle-age, Earth. Wait until things begin to get saggy and noisy all over.

Re:Creation +1, Evolution -1

[wximagery95]

Before you go trolling, at least get your there, their, and they're down. Basic grammar goes a lot way to helping your "argument".

Ouch, that's embarrassing.

Re:Creation +1, Evolution -1

[Eternauta3k]

Isn't it like someone had intelligently designed grammar nazis so they embarrass themselves every time they make a correction?
:P