Unveiling a Hidden Mystery: Scientists Discover a Massive Ocean Beneath the Earth’s Crust

Science has been full of surprises lately, and it’s exciting to learn about them. One of the latest discoveries is that there’s a massive ocean hidden deep beneath the Earth’s crust.

This ocean is not like the one we swim in. Instead, it’s made of water trapped in a rock called ringwoodite, located about 400 miles underground. This magical rock holds water in a sponge-like form that’s different from the liquids, solids, or gases we usually see.

Back in 2014, scientists published a paper that detailed these findings, explaining how water can exist in this unusual state within the mantle rock. The research showed that if ringwoodite contains just 1% water, that means there’s three times more water below the Earth’s surface than in all our oceans combined.

Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen, part of the research team, describes ringwoodite as a sponge that attracts hydrogen and traps water effectively. This discovery helps us understand how water cycles throughout the Earth, which also gives insight into why Earth has so much liquid water on its surface.

This research came from studying earthquakes and monitoring shockwaves beneath the Earth’s surface, leading to this remarkable revelation about our planet’s hidden water supply.

Moreover, scientists have recently unveiled even more discoveries—like an entirely new ecosystem found beneath the ocean when they explored volcanic crust with an underwater robot. It seems there are always more secrets to uncover in nature!