Life inside the Earth is science fiction
Matt Ruiz 8, a third-grader at Lions Park Elementary School in Mount Prospect, asked about life at the center of the Earth. "I was wondering if anything lives at the center of the Earth? I saw the 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' movie this summer, and it got me thinking."
Jules Verne, author of the book "Journey to the Center of the Earth," was a master at creating science fiction stories - tales about science and technology that might include journeys through time or space, fantastic creatures, and hi-tech gadgetry that seems real. In fact, Verne's book was part of the movie plot - the search for life below the Earth's surface as described in the book was the reason why the movie characters were driven to face the unknown dangers in their journey.
What is at the center of the Earth? The solid inner core, composed of iron and nickel, is nearly 4,000 miles below the Earth's surface. It's surrounded by the liquid outer core which is a mix of iron, nickel and other elements.
"The core is a sphere at the Earth's center and has a radius of approximately 2,200 miles," said Patrick McHaffie, geography professor at Chicago's DePaul University. "The iron and nickel core is extremely hot and dense, perhaps hotter than the surface of the Sun. It's difficult to imagine any form of life as we know it that might exist."
Scientists never have seen the Earth's core; it's too difficult to reach. Oil wells, while very deep, barely scratch through the Earth's outer crust. "Going down, the pipes weigh a lot and it's very difficult to place them in and pull them back up," said John Goin, consulting geologist with Goin Environmental Science in Mundelein. "I've seen oil wells that are between 1,600 and 20,000 feet deep in Mexico. The pipes weigh about 200 pounds a foot. They're so heavy the cables that run the drills have to be replaced once a week."
So how do they know what might be living, or not living, at the center of the Earth?
"This is known from seismological studies of earthquake waves as they pass through the center of the Earth," Professor McHaffie said. "Scientists who study these phenomena are known as geophysicists and geophysics is a fascinating branch of the earth sciences."
The scalding hot iron and nickel core, estimated to be 7,500 degrees Fahrenheit, is definitely not a place where humans could live. Organisms have been discovered that can survive in extreme conditions, although the core's temperature probably is too extreme. "At one time, the whole Earth was molten. The first life forms were believed to be high temperature bacteria. There are bacteria that live in the 200 degree hot springs at Yellowstone, giving the water its colored appearance," Goin said.
Heat from deep inside the Earth plays a key role in the Earth's processes, including the movement of the continents along the tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions.
Check these out
• The Mount Prospect Public Library suggests these titles on the Earth's core:
"Earth," by Stuart Clark
• "Journey to the Center of the Earth," by Nicholas Harris
• "Exploring the Earth: A Galaxy of Mind-expanding Information," by Peter Grego
• "Our Planet: Answers to Questions About Our Wonderful World," by Gordon Volke
• "Earth," by Thomas K. Adamson
• "Earth," by Isaac Asimov
• "Earth," by Luke Thompson
• For further information, the Mt. Prospect Public Library offers patrons the use of online encyclopedias at www.mppl.org/kids/homework.html and also the Live Homework Help link to connect to a tutor at www.mppl.org/kids/index.html