Scientists discover molten layer covering Martian core

An international team of researchers discovered the presence of a molten silicate layer overlying Mars' metallic core -- providing new insights into how Mars formed, evolved and became the barren planet it is today. NASA's InSight mission to Mars helped scientists map out Mars' internal structure, including the size and composition of its core, and provided general hints about its tumultuous formation.could lead to reanalysis of that data.

"The blanket not only insulates the heat coming from the core and prevents the core from cooling, but also concentrates radioactive elements whose decay generates heat" Lekic said."And when that happens, the core is likely to be unable to produce the convective motions that would create a magnetic field -- which can explain why Mars currently doesn't have an active magnetic field around it.

The team's conclusions support theories that Mars was at one time a molten ocean of magma that later crystallized to produce a layer of silicate melt enriched in iron and radioactive elements at the base of the Martian mantle. The heat emanating from the radioactive elements would then have dramatically altered the thermal evolution and cooling history of the red planet."These layers, if widespread, can have pretty big consequences for the rest of the planet," Lekic said.

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