Mysterious ‘Donut’ Discovered Inside Earth’s Core Through Seismic Echoes

Scientists have made a surprising discovery about Earth’s core using a new method of studying seismic waves. They have found a large donut-shaped region around the Equator, a few hundred kilometres thick, where seismic waves travel about 2% slower than in the rest of the core. This region is believed to contain more lighter elements such as silicon and oxygen, and may play a crucial role in the currents of liquid metal that generate Earth’s magnetic field. The discovery was made by analyzing the coda, or the fainter part of seismic waves, several hours after an earthquake. The findings provide a more detailed understanding of Earth’s core and its magnetic field.