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Gigantic helium deposits may be hidden inside of the Earth’s core
- New research suggests helium can bond with iron under extreme pressures and temperatures, challenging previous assumptions about noble gas reactivity.
- Scientists used a laser-heated diamond anvil cell to demonstrate helium integration into iron's crystal structure at pressures up to 55 gigapascals.
- The findings indicate that helium, instead of remaining separate, can become part of iron's atomic lattice, forming stable compounds like FeHex.
- This discovery sheds light on helium's potential storage in Earth's core, contrary to the belief that it was mainly trapped in the mantle.
- The high helium concentrations found in iron core samples suggest a significant reservoir of primordial helium, altering our understanding of Earth's internal composition.
- The experimental approach, combining high-temperature synthesis and cryogenic analyses, allowed for the detection of higher helium concentrations in iron.
- The presence of helium in Earth's core offers insights into the planet's early development, challenging traditional models of gas loss during Earth's formation.
- This research also hints at the possibility of helium interacting with other volatile elements and contributing to the origin of Earth's water and atmosphere.
- Future studies will explore if helium-iron compounds exist in deeper planetary interiors, impacting our understanding of planetary composition and material science.
- The discovery of helium bonding with iron not only expands our knowledge of Earth's core but also has implications for the development of advanced materials.
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