Scientists have discovered stunning evidence of a vast underground water reservoir — buried 400 miles beneath Earth’s surface.
At the heart of this finding is a rare mineral called ringwoodite, which exists deep in the planet’s mantle. Unlike any ocean we know, this one doesn’t slosh — the water is supercritical, a strange state that’s not liquid, solid, or gas, but something in between.
How they found it:
By studying seismic waves from earthquakes. When the waves passed through ringwoodite-rich regions, they slowed down — revealing the hidden presence of water.
Why it matters:
- This “ocean” could hold 3× more water than all surface oceans combined.
- It challenges old theories about Earth’s water origins.
- It suggests a deep-Earth water cycle that’s been active for billions of years.
This discovery could rewrite how we understand planetary evolution, tectonics, and the hidden dynamics of Earth itself.