Scientists have discovered two gigantic structures deep within the Earth that could be the remains of an ancient planet. The structures, which are each the size of a continent and 100 times taller than Mount Everest, were found in the Earth’s mantle, the layer of rock that lies between the crust and the core.
The structures are called Large Low-Shear-Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), and they are made up of denser, more iron-rich material than the surrounding mantle. This suggests that they may have formed when a smaller planet collided with the Earth early in its history. The impact would have melted the Earth’s surface, and the LLSVPs may have formed from the debris that was left over.
The discovery of the LLSVPs is a major breakthrough in our understanding of the Earth’s interior. It suggests that the Earth may have been more chaotic and violent in its early history than we previously thought. It also raises the possibility that the Earth may have captured and absorbed other planets over the course of its history.
The scientists who discovered the LLSVPs are still working to learn more about them. They are using computer models to try to simulate how the structures formed, and they are also planning to drill deeper into the Earth to collect samples of the material that makes them up.
The discovery of the LLSVPs is a reminder that the Earth is a complex and dynamic planet. It is also a reminder that there is still much that we do not know about our home planet.