Archive · 6 Jun 2025
Scientists Still Don't Know the Cause of Earth's Mysterious 26-Second Pulse
Imagine the Earth has a tiny heartbeat, a repeating pulse every 26 seconds that scientists have been studying for decades.
It's like a very faint vibration deep inside the planet, too small for humans to feel.
Scientists first noticed it in the 1960s, and since then, they've used special tools to study it more closely.
They've figured out where it comes from, near Africa, but they still don't know exactly what causes it.
Some think it might be caused by ocean waves hitting the shore, while others believe it's linked to volcanoes.
It's a big mystery that scientists are working hard to solve, hoping to understand more about our planet.
A faint seismic pulse repeats every 26 seconds, known as Earth's 'heartbeat'.
The pulse was first noticed in the 1960s by geophysicist Jack Oliver.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder confirmed the signal's existence and location in 2005.
Two main theories for the origin: ocean wave resonance and volcanic activity near São Tomé.
The pulse is a subject of scientific interest and is monitored by seismologists worldwide.
- Who
- Scientists, seismologists, and geophysicists.
- What
- A mysterious 26-second seismic pulse that repeats consistently.
- When
- First detected in the 1960s; consistently repeating every 26 seconds.
- Where
- Originates deep within the Earth, with a source identified in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of west Africa.
- Why
- The exact cause is still unknown, but scientists are investigating.
Proposed Explanations
Scientists Disagree
Origin of the Pulse
Proposed Explanations
Ocean wave resonance on the continental shelf is the cause.
Scientists Disagree
Volcanic activity near São Tomé is the cause.
- Phenomenon
- 26-second seismic pulse
- First Detection
- 1960s
- Location
- Gulf of Guinea
- Equipment Used
- Seismometers
- Proposed Causes
- Ocean wave resonance, volcanic activity
- Current Status
- Ongoing research, cause still unknown