Mercury shrinks far more than scientists expected, reshaping its core story
TL;DR
Mercury has contracted up to 14.5 miles in diameter—roughly 30% more than earlier estimates—due to cooling of its iron core. Hidden surface roughness had masked the loss, but a new roughness map shows rugged regions carry fewer wrinkles while debris around major craters hides contractions. The finding implies a larger metallic core and fewer light elements, with implications for Mercury’s formation and magnetic field; upcoming laser mapping by the BepiColombo mission will help confirm the results.
- Mercury is shrinking much more than scientists realized Mashable
- Mercury Is Shrinking, and Faster Than We Thought The New York Times
- Scientists are trying to figure out if Mercury is even smaller than expected CNN
- Hidden clues show Mercury shrank more than previously thought USA Today
- The Planet Mercury Has Been Shrinking—More Than Scientists Expected Time Magazine
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