"First Measurement of Earth's Inner Magnetism Made"
OurAmazingPlanet Staff, Space.com (December 17, 2010)
"For the first time ever, a scientist has measured the strength of the magnetic field inside Earth's core, some 1,800 miles (2,896 kilometers) underground.
"It turns out the magnetic field in Earth's core is about 50 times stronger than on the planet's surface, and the new number may help scientists narrow down the possible heat sources that fuel the mysterious processes of the planet's interior.
" 'A measurement of the magnetic field tells us what the energy requirements are and what the sources of heat are,' said Bruce A. Buffett, a professor of Earth and planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley, who made the measurement.
"Scientists think that Earth's heat comes from three sources: the residual heat from the formation of the planet around 4.5 billion years ago, when the planet was hot and molten; the release of gravitational energy as heavy elements sink to the bottom of the liquid core; and the radioactive decay of long-lived elements...."
This measurement - or, rather, the results of an analysis of very precise measurements of twitches in the direction of Earth's axis - will help folks who study the planet's inner workings. With more information, they'll be able to make more accurate models of Earth's interior.
All of which won't get the snow shoveled off the Lemming's driveway: but it'd be a poor world, without a search for knowledge. In my opinion.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Unique, innovative candles
Visit us online: | |
Spiral Light Candle | • Find a Retailer • Spiral Light Candle online store |
Top 10 Most-Viewed Posts
-
(from INKCINCT Cartoons, used w/o permission) I very seldom copy an entire post in this blog, but trying to describe this cartoon would have...
-
" Coconut crab " AbsoluteAstronomy.com " The coconut crab, Birgus latro, is the largest land-living arthropod in the world an...
-
Ploak.com Article Directory " Your one-stop source for free articles. Do you need contents to add to your web site? Or articles for use...
-
" How to Think Like an Interior Designer " Jaime Derringer, via Shelpterpop (July 29, 2010) " It takes a unique mind to perfe...
-
Before anything else, repeating from an earlier post: Google has launched a 'people finder' for Japan, in Japanese, English, Korea...
-
Update (October 11, 2010) Another article about Reaction Engines Ltd.'s Skylon: " Airplanes in Space? " Irene Klotz, Space ...
-
" Stan Lee Unveils 3 New Superheroes at Comic-Con " Underwire, Wired (July 22, 2010) " A time traveler, an unwitting heir to ...
-
" Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly Larvae) (Corydalus cornutus) " Texas Parks and Wildlife " Other Names " Eastern Dobsonfly ...
-
" 'Lost City' of Tanis Found, but Often Forgotten " Brian Handwerk, Mysteries of the Ancient World, National Geographic (...
-
Whether you call it trafficking in persons, human trafficking, or slavery, buying and selling people isn't nice. And, in quite a few cou...
Today's News! Some of it, anyway
Actually, some of yesterday's news may be here. Or maybe last week's.
The software and science stuff might still be interesting, though. Or not.
The Lemming thinks it's interesting: Your experience may vary.
The software and science stuff might still be interesting, though. Or not.
The Lemming thinks it's interesting: Your experience may vary.
("Following" list moved here, after Blogger changed formats)
No comments:
Post a Comment