Scientists Detect Strange New Structures Deep Inside the Earth - Futurism
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have used machine learning to identify 175,000 new seismic signals deep within the Earth. This data has allowed for the creation of a comprehensive map of small-scale structures near the Earth's core-mantle boundary.
Why it matters
Advanced machine learning techniques are enabling breakthroughs in geophysical research that were previously impossible due to the sheer volume of data.
Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech
Drilling thousands of miles into the Earth to study our planet’s inner layers — its thin crust, rigid mantle, liquid outer core, and solid inner core — simply isn’t feasible given technological limitations.
Instead, geologists typically use clever tricks to explore our planet’s interior, like probing seismic activity triggered by the dynamics of these shifting layers to plumb their mysteries.
And much like these layers, that picture continues to evolve. As detailed in a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth , researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed data from over two million earthquakes across the planet that took place between 1990 and 2024, using a machine learning algorithm to identify structures lurking several thousand miles below the surface.
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