Earth's Core Holds Massive Hydrogen Reservoir

A recent study suggests Earth's core might harbor an immense reservoir of hydrogen, potentially equivalent to nine times the volume of all the planet's oceans. This significant finding indicates that hydrogen could constitute between 0.36% and 0.7% of the core's total weight. Researchers propose that Earth acquired the majority of its water, the primary source of hydrogen, during its initial formation phases rather than through later comet impacts.

This discovery implies that the core, a swirling mass of iron and nickel beneath the mantle and crust, held the most water in the planet's early history. Scientists utilized atom probe tomography, a technique that analyzes samples at the atomic scale, to replicate core temperatures and pressures. By observing how hydrogen interacted with silicon and oxygen in iron nanostructures, they could estimate the core's hydrogen content.

While this new estimate offers valuable insights, scientists caution that further research is needed to refine the figures. Uncertainties remain regarding potential hydrogen loss during sample decompression and other chemical interactions. Nevertheless, the findings significantly inform our understanding of planetary formation and the distribution of essential elements for life.