Ancient, primordial helium that was forged in the wake of the Big Bang is leaking from Earth's core, scientists report in a new study.
There's no cause for alarm. Earth isn't deflating like a sad balloon. What it does mean is that Earth formed inside a solar nebula – the molecular cloud that gave birth to the Sun, a detail about our planet's birth that has long been unresolved.It also suggests that other primordial gases may be leaking from Earth's core into the mantle, which in turn could yield information about the composition of the solar nebula.
The other stable isotope, accounting for just about 0.000137 percent of Earth's helium, is helium-3, with two protons and one neutron. It's the Helium-3 isotope that has been detected leaking out of Earth's interior, mostly along the mid-ocean volcanic ridge system, giving us a pretty good indication of the rate at which it escapes the crust.from the University of New Mexico."It's a wonder of nature, and a clue for the history of the Earth, that there's still a significant amount of this isotope in the interior of the Earth.
This would tell us the source of the isotope. When Earth formed, it did so by accumulating material from the dust and gas floating around the newborn Sun.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Photo shows potentially hazardous asteroid before it passes close to EarthThe asteroid is thought to measure about 656 feet across, which would make it taller than the Space Needle in Seattle.
Read more »
House-sized asteroid zooms by Earth in close flybyThe 49-foot-wide asteroid 2022 FB2 was discovered on March 26.
Read more »
UN Warns Europe of ‘Hell on Earth’ Migrant Crisis Amid Food ShortagePay for the food of the developing world or face another migrant crisis — this is the ultimatum the head of the UN’s World Food Program has put to Europe’s leaders.
Read more »
Asteroid the size of a house flies by EarthA 49-foot-wide asteroid the size of a house is flying by Earth on Monday causing astronomers to take note, but it's not expected to be cause for alarm experts say.
Read more »
What is climate change, and how is it affecting Earth?Climate change is real and humans are causing it.
Read more »
Perseverance rover's Mars samples now won't make it to Earth until 2033 at bestAnd the sample-return mission plan now includes two Mars landers instead of one.
Read more »