Three minutes to the centre of the Earth - BBC

Summary

This video takes viewers on a journey to the center of the Earth, explaining the layers that make up our planet. Starting with the crust, home to life and ancient cities, it progresses through the mantle, where rock flows slowly, to the outer core, an ocean of molten iron and nickel that generates Earth's magnetic field. Finally, it reaches the inner core, a solid sphere of crystallized metals under extreme pressure and heat. The video illustrates the science behind Earth's structure, while referencing Jules Verne's classic adventure.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Earth has layers, like an onion, and life as we know it only exists in the outermost layer, the crust.
• 🐾 In the Earth's crust, some animals, like Nile crocodiles, burrow as deep as 12 meters underground.
• 🏙️ The crust is also home to ancient underground cities, such as Elengubu in Turkey, which could house 20,000 people and was built around 370 BC.
• ⛏️ South African miners have reached depths of around 4 kilometers, but life tends to stop existing beyond 3 kilometers below the surface.
• 🕳️ The deepest hole ever drilled is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, which some refer to as the 'gateway to Hell' due to eerie claims from locals.
• 🌋 The Earth's mantle, located 30 to 50 kilometers below the surface, consists of hot rock that flows slowly, contributing to earthquakes on the surface.
• 🔬 Efforts to drill into the Earth's mantle have been made since the 1960s, with new plans targeting deep drilling beneath the Indian Ocean.
• 📉 At great depths, increasing pressure causes familiar materials to behave oddly, with crystals changing colors and rock becoming as malleable as plastic.
• 🧲 The outer core of the Earth, made of flowing iron and nickel, creates a magnetic field that protects the planet from harmful solar radiation.
• 🔥 The inner core, located 6,000 kilometers below, is a solid sphere of crystallized metals, with extreme pressure and temperatures around 6,000 degrees.

Q & A

How far is it to the center of the Earth?

It is 6,371 kilometers to the center of the Earth.

What are the main layers of the Earth mentioned in the script?

The main layers are the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core.

Where does life exist on Earth according to the script?

Life exists only in the first layer, the crust.

What is the deepest animal burrow, and who made it?

The deepest animal burrow, made by Nile crocodiles, can reach depths of 12 meters.

What is Elengubu, and what makes it significant?

Elengubu is an ancient underground city in Turkey, capable of housing 20,000 people. It includes schools and chapels and is thought to have been built around 370 years BC.

What is the deepest hole ever drilled, and where is it located?

The deepest hole ever drilled is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia.

What did miners find at around two kilometers underground in South African gold mines?

Miners found worms living two kilometers underground.

What happens to materials as we descend deeper into the Earth's mantle?

Materials become warped due to increased pressure, and rocks become malleable like plastic. Crystals also change colors from green to blue to brown.

What is significant about the outer core of the Earth?

The outer core is made of flowing, red-hot iron and nickel. This motion creates Earth's magnetic field, protecting it from dangerous solar rays.

Why can't a vehicle survive a journey to the center of the Earth?

The intense pressure and heat would crush and melt any vehicle long before reaching the inner core.