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Earth’s molten youth had long-lasting consequences

A model shows that key physical properties of our planet, from the density of its iron core to its water, could have been set by interactions between a magma ocean and an early hydrogen atmosphere that was lost to space.
  1. Sean N. Raymond

    1. Sean N. Raymond is in the Laboratory of Astrophysics of Bordeaux, CNRS, University of Bordeaux, 33615 Pessac Cedex, France.

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Among Earth’s many mysteries, two are particularly puzzling for planetary scientists: the origin of its water, and the fact that its core is less dense than it should be, given that it is made mainly of metallic iron. Writing in Nature, Young et al.1 show that interactions between a young proto-Earth and its atmosphere might explain both in one fell swoop, and also account for the oxidation state of Earth’s mantle.

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Nature 616, 251-252 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00979-1

References

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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