Geophysicists from Zurich have discovered a "lost world" on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, a structure found in a region where this type of material was not expected to be discovered. Using an innovative method capable of analyzing seismic waves, the ETH team achieved this surprising finding that has sparked great interest in the scientific community.
The discovery was made possible by the use of a supercomputer that processes earthquake data, revealing the presence of remains in unusual areas, far from subduction zones and deep within the continents. Scientists are astonished by the location of these structures, which raise questions about their possible origin and composition.
One of the geophysicists involved in the research mentioned that these areas in the Earth's mantle could be more widespread than previously thought, suggesting they might be remnants of silicon-rich material or zones with high iron content accumulated over millions of years due to seismic movements. Although these anomalies have been closely observed, their nature has not yet been definitively determined, as the current model only allows measuring the speed of seismic waves through the structures.
This discovery highlights the need to develop more sophisticated models to better understand these mysterious formations, which could represent a fascinating window into the Earth's interior. Scientists hope that this innovative advance will provide a more detailed and complex view of our planet's internal structure, laying the groundwork for future research in the field of geophysics.
