Mysterious Slowing Down of Earth's Inner Core: Implications for Magnetic Field and Day Length

Further analysis confirmed that the inner core had indeed slowed down since around 2008.
Seismic data from various locations worldwide, such as South Sandwich Islands and Alaska, revealed that S waves were traveling through the Earth faster than P waves, indicating something was happening within the Earth's core.
The cause of this change remains unclear, but scientists are investigating various theories including changes in temperature or pressure within the core.
The Earth's inner core has been slowing down since around 2010.
This phenomenon is significant because the inner core's rotation directly influences Earth's magnetic field and may impact the length of a day.
Mysterious Slowing Down of Earth's Inner Core: Implications for Magnetic Field and Day Length

In recent years, a series of studies have reported unusual findings regarding the rotation of Earth's inner core. According to multiple sources, including CNN, Business Insider, Science Focus, and Smithsonian Magazine, the inner core has been slowing down since around 2010. This phenomenon is significant because the inner core's rotation directly influences Earth's magnetic field and may impact the length of a day.

The first indication of this change came from seismic data collected at various locations worldwide, such as South Sandwich Islands and Alaska. These observations revealed that S waves (shear waves) were traveling through the Earth faster than P waves (pressure waves), which is unusual because P waves typically travel faster. This discrepancy suggested that something was happening within the Earth's core.

Further analysis of seismograms and waveforms from these regions confirmed that the inner core had indeed slowed down, with some studies suggesting a decrease in rotation speed since around 2008. The cause of this change remains unclear, but scientists are investigating various theories, including changes in temperature or pressure within the core.

The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. A slower-spinning inner core could affect Earth's magnetic field and potentially shorten the length of a day. However, more research is needed to fully understand these potential consequences.

It is important to note that while multiple sources report similar findings, it is crucial to remain skeptical and consider the overall reliability of each source. The studies mentioned in this article have been published in reputable scientific journals such as Nature and Nature Geoscience, but it's essential to remember that even peer-reviewed research can contain errors or biases.

Sources: CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/05/science/earth-inner-core-rotation-slowdown-cycle-scn/ Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/earths-inner-core-reverseddirectionandis slowingdown Science Focus: https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/earths-core-slowingdown Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/earthsinnercoremaybeslowingitsspinanotherstudysuggests/


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Additional research is needed to fully understand the potential consequences.
  • The cause of the inner core's rotation slowdown remains unclear.

Sources

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Earth’s core has slowed so much it’s moving backward, scientists confirm. Here’s what it could mean

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Mindy Weisberger Friday, 05 July 2024 10:00
  • Unique Points
    • Earth's core has slowed down so much it is moving backward.
    • New evidence supports a 70-year cycle in the changes of rotational speed.
    • The inner core's direct influence on Earth's magnetic field is unknown, but it has been suggested that a slower-spinning core could affect it and shorten the length of a day.
  • Accuracy
    • New evidence supports a hypothesis that the inner core spun faster in the past but is now slowing down, moving backward relative to fluid layers around it.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Earth's inner core reversed direction and is slowing down, and scientists don't know why

Business Insider Jessica Orwig Saturday, 06 July 2024 00:26
  • Unique Points
    • In the last decade, scientists have been getting unusual data suggesting that the inner core’s rotation is going haywire.
    • The data implies that in 2010, the inner core reversed its rotational direction compared to the Earth’s surface, a phenomenon called backtracking.
    • New study offers new evidence of inner core backtracking and slower rotation using seismogram analysis from repeating earthquakes in South Sandwich Islands.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of an appeal to authority. The author states that “There’s no risk of a cataclysmic disaster... The most we might experience on the surface is a minuscule lengthening in our days as rotation slows, but the change would be so small — we’re talking milliseconds — that we probably wouldn’t even notice.” This is an example of exaggerated consequences, implying that the effects of the inner core reversing direction and slowing down are not as significant as other cataclysmic disasters. Additionally, there is an appeal to authority when the author states “The research team behind the study even goes so far as to say they have the “most definitive evidence” yet that the inner core is backtracking and moving more slowly.” This suggests that because experts say it, it must be true. Another informal fallacy is an appeal to ignorance when the author states “Backtracking also hasn’t happened in the last 40 years, so the possibility of such a massive object undergoing such an extreme change has been more a topic of debate than a scientific certainty.” This implies that since there is no precedent for this event, it must be significant and uncertain. Lastly, there are some instances of dichotomous depiction when the author presents the inner core's behavior as either happening or not happening without considering other possibilities.
    • There's no risk of a cataclysmic disaster... The most we might experience on the surface is a minuscule lengthening in our days as rotation slows, but the change would be so small — we’re talking milliseconds — that we probably wouldn’t even notice.
    • Backtracking also hasn't happened in the last 40 years, so the possibility of such a massive object undergoing such an extreme change has been more a topic of debate than a scientific certainty.
    • The research team analyzed and compared seismograms from over 100 repeating earthquakes that occurred between 1991 and 2023 in the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

82%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Earth's Inner Core May Be Slowing Its Spin, Another Study Suggests

Smithsonian Magazine Online Edition (www.smithsonianmag.com) Rudy Molinek Saturday, 06 July 2024 00:27
  • Unique Points
    • A new study suggests Earth’s inner core might be spinning more slowly than it used to.
    • Provides evidence for a decrease in inner core speed since around 2008.
  • Accuracy
    • Earth’s core has slowed down so much it is moving backward.
    • The inner core’s rotation speed and direction have been debated for decades.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position about the inner core of the Earth slowing down its spin. The author quotes scientists who support this idea and dismisses those who disagree without providing a balanced perspective. The article also uses emotional manipulation by stating that 'scientists have been struggling to pin down the specifics of the inner core’s motion' and 'the controversy of whether or not the heart of the planet spins differently than the rest of Earth reignited in January 2023'. These statements create a sense of urgency and importance around the topic, which may influence readers' perceptions.
    • A new study suggests our planet’s inner core might be spinning more slowly than it used to.
    • But if the inner core was shifting its speed in a cycle, some of these waveforms would repeat. And sure enough, the team was able to match more than 25 patterns before and after 2008, showing a symmetry they say is explained by a recent slowing of the inner core’s speed.
    • The controversy of whether or not the heart of the planet spins differently than the rest of Earth reignited in January 2023.
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority with the quotes from Xiaodong Song and Paul Richards. However, no formal or informal fallacies were found in the text.
    • Xiaodong Song: 'But scientists have been struggling to pin down the specifics of the inner core’s motion.'
    • Paul Richards: 'This paper shows that the evidence for [faster] rotation is strong before about 2009 and basically dies off in subsequent years.'
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Something very strange is happening to Earth’s core, and scientists might finally know why

Science Focus Saturday, 06 July 2024 00:28
  • Unique Points
    • The inner core began to slow down around 2010.
    • A new study published in Nature suggests that the inner core began to slow down around 2010.
  • Accuracy
    • The inner core reversed its rotational direction compared to the Earth’s surface, a phenomenon called backtracking.
    • A new study provides evidence for a decrease in inner core speed since around 2008.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when the author quotes Prof. John Vidale stating 'Our latest study provides the most convincing resolution.' This statement implies that their study is definitively correct and that other models or arguments are not valid, but this has not been proven.
    • 'Our latest study provides the most convincing resolution.'
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

81%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Earth’s inner core has ‘backtracked’ and is rotating more slowly – experts warn it could change length of o...

The Sun Mackenzie Tatananni Friday, 05 July 2024 14:39
  • Unique Points
    • The Earth's inner core is rotating more slowly and has changed direction.
    • A new paper published last month in Nature found evidence that the Earth’s inner core is ‘backtracking’ and has slowed over time.
  • Accuracy
    • Earth's core has slowed down so much it is moving backward.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article makes several statements that imply facts without providing clear evidence or linking to peer-reviewed studies. For example, the author states 'Experts say this change would be imperceptible in one lifetime.' and 'Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin blame the tides.' However, no sources are provided for these claims. Additionally, there is selective reporting as the article only reports details that support the author's position about the length of Earth's days changing. The author also uses emotional manipulation by stating 'Experts warn it could change length of our days.'
    • Experts say this change would be imperceptible in one lifetime.
    • Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin blame the tides.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by citing multiple scientific papers and experts in the field. However, there are also instances of inflammatory rhetoric and dichotomous depictions. The author states that 'scientists have struggled to understand the core's behavior for years' implying a problem or uncertainty, but later states that 'experts say this change would be imperceptible in one lifetime.' This creates a false dichotomy between the perceived problem and the insignificance of the change. The author also uses inflammatory language when stating that 'scientists believe this has caused the inner core to slow down over time' implying a causative relationship without providing clear evidence.
    • The new paper also supports a theory that the change is part of a long-observed pattern of slowing and accelerating.
    • Scientists have struggled to understand the core's behavior for years.
    • But what exactly is prompting this change?
    • The findings may affect the length of a day on Earth - but there's a catch.
    • Researchers at The University of Wisconsin-Madison agree that days are lengthening, but say it's driven by changes in the Moon's distance from Earth.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication