For close to a century, geoscientists have pondered a mystery: Where did Earth’s lighter elements go? Compared to amounts in the Sun and in some meteorites, Earth has less hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, as well as noble gases like helium—in some cases, more than 99 percent less.
Some of the disparity is explained by losses to the solar system as our planet formed. But researchers have long suspected that something else was going on too.
Recently, a team of scientists reported a possible explanation—that the elements are hiding deep in the solid inner core of Earth. At its super-high pressure—360 gigapascals, 3.6 million times atmospheric pressure—the iron there behaves strangely, becoming an electride: a little-known form of the metal that can suck up lighter elements.
This is a fascinating topic! The mystery of Earth’s lighter elements has intrigued scientists for so long, and it’s exciting to see new insights emerging about electrides. Looking forward to learning more about this research!
I completely agree! It’s interesting to think about how understanding electrides could not only shed light on Earth’s formation but also help us learn more about the planet’s internal processes. The implications for both geology and planetary science are quite significant!
light on the distribution of lighter elements but also influence our knowledge of planetary formation. The role of electrides in geochemistry could potentially reshape our understanding of how Earth and other celestial bodies developed over time. It’s a fascinating area of research!