Lately, science has unveiled some mind-blowing discoveries that make our heads spin. We recently learned about a black hole staring us down, a massive hole on the sun, and even a lost continent that had vanished for 375 years.
Now, it seems there’s a vast ocean hidden beneath our feet. Deep within the Earth’s crust, around 400 miles down, scientists found a large supply of water stored in a rock called ringwoodite.
This rock holds water in a unique way. It’s not a liquid, solid, or gas—it’s in a sponge-like state, which scientists describe as a new state of water. This discovery was detailed in a 2014 scientific paper titled ‘Dehydration melting at the top of the lower mantle.’
Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen explained, “Ringwoodite acts like a sponge, soaking up water.” He noted that the special crystal structure of this mineral helps it capture hydrogen and hold onto water. Jacobsen and his team believe we are witnessing a whole-Earth water cycle, which might help explain how we have so much liquid water on the surface. Scientists have been in search of this deep water for many years.
The breakthrough came when researchers studied earthquake shockwaves. They used seismometers to detect these waves beneath the Earth’s surface, leading them to understand that water is locked in the ringwoodite rock.
If this rock contains just 1% water, that means there is three times more water buried deep underground than in our oceans. That’s a staggering thought!
This isn’t the only exciting discovery. Researchers recently stumbled upon a whole new ecosystem beneath volcanic crust, thanks to an underwater robot. Nature still holds many surprises, reminding us that there is much more to explore and learn.
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ocean, science, earth
