'Electric Earth' Could Explain Planet's Rotation 153
sciencehabit writes "When it comes to Earth's rotation, you might think geophysicists have pretty much everything figured out. Not quite. In order to explain some variations in the way our planet spins, Earth's mantle — the layer of hot, softened rock that lies between the crust and core — must conduct electricity, an ability that the mantle as we know it shouldn't have. Now, a new study (academic paper) finds that iron monoxide, which makes up 9% of the mantle, actually does conduct electricity just like a metal, but only at temperatures and pressures found far beneath the surface."
And that's why (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Iron Monoxide? (Score:5, Funny)
FeO is Ferrous Oxide not Iron Monoxide.
The topic at the moment is geology, not chemistry. Try to keep up.
Bloody chemists. Grumble, mumble, ...
Re:Physics Question. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Iron Monoxide? (Score:5, Funny)
As long as it isn't dihydrogen monoxide. That stuff's dangerous!
Re:Iron Monoxide? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Could explain the _torque_ (Score:5, Funny)
Downtains?
Where did you think the electricity went? (Score:5, Funny)
One side of every electrical circuit is connected to a cold water pipe. And all the cold water pipes are connected to the earth's mantle. This is why there is electricity in the earth's mantle. The solution? Just connect your circuits to an antenna instead of grounding them. This way all the electrons will be radiated into the ionosphere, and you'll once again be able to touch the earth's mantle without getting a nasty shock.
Re:Not to be confused with.... (Score:4, Funny)
I switched off when I saw the Lovecraft quote.
Of course it did. That is a defense mechanism because your mind is to puny to comprehend and/or confront the madness of the abyss......