Earth's Inner Core Shows Unexpected Reverse Rotation ; Know More

In today's world, we often assume that our planet's stability is guaranteed. However, recent academic findings suggest a significant shift is underway — one that feels like the ground is moving beneath us, 3,220 miles deep, within Earth's inner core.

Research led by Dr. John Vidale, a prominent Earth Sciences professor at the University of Southern California, has revealed that Earth's inner core is gradually slowing down and now rotating in the opposite direction. This surprising change could have significant implications for our planet.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

Researchers confirm that the Earth's core has experienced a slowdown, supporting the theory that its rotation varies over decades between deceleration and acceleration. 

Dr. John Vidale mentioned that," We’ve been arguing about this for 20 years, and I think this nails it. I think we’ve ended the debate on whether the inner core moves, and what’s been its pattern for the last couple of decades,"

CNN reports that the research not only confirms Earth's slowdown but also supports scientists' assertion from 2023 that the core's deceleration follows a pattern of slowing down and speeding up over decades.

In 2023, a new model explained how Earth's core rotation has changed over time. Initially, the inner core spun faster than the Earth's crust, aligning their rotations. Eventually, the core's rotation slowed down further, eventually reversing direction.