# Scientific studies of Earth's core composition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/scientific-studies-of-earths-core-composition
> Updated: 2026-08-23T05:37:21.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Scientific research has provided new insights into the composition and dynamics of Earth’s core. Quantum-mechanical simulations published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicate that hydrogen exists in a super-ionic state within the inner core. This hydrogen is not uniformly distributed but forms a concentration gradient, with approximately 16% of atoms at the boundary between the solid inner core and liquid outer core, decreasing to 9% toward the center. This super-ionic hydrogen flows like a liquid through solid iron under extreme pressure and temperature, potentially influencing the planet’s magnetic field.

Complementary research suggests that the outer core may also be heterogeneous rather than a uniform liquid mass. By analyzing seismic waves from underground nuclear tests conducted in French Polynesia between 1977 and 1995, geophysicists identified variations in wave travel times and discovered a new seismic wave type, PKrKP. These findings point to the potential existence of large moving solid masses and anomalous regions within the outer core, which may offer further understanding of the formation and changes of Earth’s magnetic field.

## Claims

- The Earth's outer core may contain heterogeneous materials and large moving solid masses rather than being a uniform liquid mass. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The research utilized seismic wave data from 112 pairs of underground nuclear tests conducted by France in Mururoa, French Polynesia, between 1977 and 1995. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Seismic waves traveling through the outer core arrived approximately 0.1 seconds faster in 1982-1983 and 0.15 seconds faster in 1988-1990 compared to 1977. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- By 1995, seismic waves traveling through the outer core were 0.15 to 0.2 seconds slower than in 1977. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- An anomalous region measuring over 700 kilometers wide and approximately 100 kilometers thick may exist in the South Pacific at low latitudes. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- A previously unknown type of seismic wave, named PKrKP, was identified in the study. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-23: Earth's outer core may contain moving solid masses, study finds

Research from Virginia Tech suggests Earth's outer core contains moving solid masses, identified through seismic wave variations from historical French nuclear tests.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/earths-outer-core-may-contain-moving-solid-masses-study-finds

### 2026-08-04: Earth's Inner Core Contains Gradient of Super‑Ionic Hydrogen, Study Finds

Quantum simulations show super‑ionic hydrogen forms a gradient in Earth’s inner core, peaking at the inner‑outer core boundary and possibly affecting the magnetic field, according to a new PNAS study.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/earths-inner-core-contains-gradient-of-superionic-hydrogen-study-finds

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Cite as: Scientific studies of Earth's core composition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/scientific-studies-of-earths-core-composition