Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Scientists Reveal Earth's Hidden Water in Magma Oceans
A long time ago, Earth was very hot and covered in magma.
Scientists wondered where all the water was during this time.
They found out that water was hidden deep inside a mineral called bridgmanite in Earth's mantle.
This mineral acted like a tiny container, holding the water as the planet cooled down.
The scientists used special tools to study this mineral under extreme conditions, similar to those deep inside Earth.
Their research helps us understand how Earth became the cool and calm planet we live on today.
Earth was once a hot planet with magma oceans 4.6 billion years ago.
Water was hidden deep within the mineral bridgmanite in Earth's mantle.
Bridgmanite acted as a microscopic 'water container' as the planet solidified.
Researchers used a diamond anvil cell with laser heating to study bridgmanite under extreme conditions.
The findings were published in the journal Science.
- Who
- Professor Zhixue Du and team from GIGCAS
- What
- Discovery of Earth's hidden water in the mantle
- When
- 4.6 billion years ago
- Where
- Earth's mantle, specifically in bridgmanite
- Why
- To understand the transformation of Earth from a molten state to a habitable planet
- Timeframe
- 4.6 billion years ago
- Researchers
- Professor Zhixue Du and team from GIGCAS
- Mineral
- Bridgmanite
- Depth
- 660 kilometers
- Temperature
- 4,100 degrees Celsius
- Study Published
- Science