Cosmic Drama Unveiled: How Precious Metals Travel from Space to Earth's Mantle

A recent breakthrough in Earth science sheds new light on the origins of precious metals like gold and platinum, challenging conventional wisdom. This groundbreaking research, conducted by scientists at Yale University and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reports Interesting Engineering. Here's a summary of the findings:

Gold and platinum have long fascinated humanity due to their scarcity, beauty, and industrial significance.

The study reveals a captivating story that traces the origins of these valuable materials from deep space to Earth's mantle.

This research overturns the previous understanding that these precious metals arrived on Earth through violent collisions with massive celestial bodies.

Precious metals are highly attracted to iron, which should have led them to either merge with Earth's iron core or sink deep into the mantle, preventing their presence on the surface.

To follow the HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click here to join now!

Scientists proposed a groundbreaking theory that revolves around a "transient" region within Earth's mantle.

This transient region, with dynamic properties, efficiently traps falling metallic components, gradually delivering them to the rest of the mantle.

The ongoing process is linked to geophysical anomalies deep within the mantle, known as "large low-shear-velocity provinces."

This research has implications beyond the origins of gold and platinum, providing insights into the formation of celestial bodies across the universe.

The study highlights the remarkable time scales involved in Earth's formation, with the transient mantle region's influence spanning billions of years.

This discovery challenges conventional wisdom and reshapes our understanding of how precious metals ended up in Earth's mantle, thanks to the innovative work of Jun Korenaga from Yale University and Simone Marchi from SwRI.

Also, read these top stories today:

CES 2024 coming!

Sam Altman may not attend CES 2024, but that does not mean it will be short of movers and shakers. The generative AI fever Altman's startup set off last year will be on full display as gadget makers race to find consumer uses for the technology. Some interesting details in this article. Check it out here. 

Big Tech Breakthrough by China?

A new laptop by Huawei has set alarm bells ringing of a new chip breakthrough by China. Know the truth here. 

If you enjoyed reading this article, please forward it to your friends and family.

Big setback for YouTube over employees!

The court just sided with the staff. Jump in here. 

Found it interesting? Go on, and share it with everyone you know.

One more thing! HT Tech is now on WhatsApp Channels! Follow us there so you never miss any update from the world of technology. ‎To follow the HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click here to join now!