In their latest research findings, Chinese scientists have, for the first time, confirmed the existence of a solid core inside Mars.
According to CCTV News, reporters learned from the University of Science and Technology of China that Professors Sun Daoyuan and Mao Zhu and their team, in collaboration with international scholars, have made significant progress in the field of planetary science research.
By thoroughly analyzing data recorded by NASA's InSight lander, the research team has, for the first time, confirmed the existence of a solid core inside Mars with a radius of about 600 kilometers, and revealed that its main composition is likely to be a crystallized iron-nickel alloy rich in light elements.
What is a solid core?
The solid inner core was discovered by Inge Lehmann in 1936, and is mainly composed of iron and nickel. About 4.5 billion years ago, during Earth's early period, the high temperature molten state caused heavier substances to sink to the center of the Earth, while lighter substances floated up to the crust; this process is called planetary differentiation. As such, the core can be inferred to contain about 80% iron and nickel, as well as some lighter elements. Other heavy elements, such as lead and uranium, are either present in quantities too small or remain in the crust after combining with other light elements.