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Scientists from the Australian National University have discovered evidence of a new layer inside the Earth called the "innermost inner core".
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The newly discovered layer is a solid metallic ball and brings the total number of layers in the Earth's core to five.
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Seismic waves that travel directly through the Earth's centre were used to uncover the new layer.
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The researchers analysed the variation of travel times of seismic waves for different earthquakes.
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It had previously been thought that Earth's structure had four layers.
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The discovery could help reveal more about the planet's past and evolution.
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The researchers suggest there may have been a significant change in the crystal structure or texture of the Earth's inner core at some point during its evolutionary timeline.
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The waves speed up or slow down depending on their angle of entry as they penetrate the innermost inner core.
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The scientists likened the process to a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth.
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The discovery challenges the historic understanding of the Earth's inner core.