Earth’s core wobbles every 8.5 years, new study suggests

Scientists in China recently made a discovery that every 8.5 years, the Earth’s inner core wobbles around its rotational axis.

This shift is likely caused by a tiny misalignment between the inner core and the Earth’s mantle—the layer below the Earth’s crust, according to the researchers’ new study.

This newfound tilt in the inner core could eventually lead to a change in the shape and motion of the liquid core, leading to a potential shift in Earth’s magnetic field, according to the study published Dec. 8 in the journal Nature Communications.

The discovery could help researchers understand the dynamics between Earth’s inner core and processes that impact humanity, from earthquakes to changes in the magnetic field.