Nuclear Core :: Earth Science Essays

Nuclear Core The Earth’s core is a massive nuclear fission reactor. The core uses the process of nuclear fission to burn it’s fuel of uranium 235 into lighter elements, or fission byproducts. This core is also responsible for producing much of the geological phenomenon observed on the Earth. Phenomena such as geomagnetism and the periodic shutting down of the Earth’s magnetic field are examples of phenomena that are directly attributed to fission within the Earth. There is also substantial reason to believe that the center of the Earth is a massive nuclear reactor from the empirical data gathered from observations, testing, and logical evidence to support this idea. The traditional theory about the Earth’s core suggest that the core of the Earth is a solid nickel and iron sphere surrounded by a fluid metallic magma. The rotation of the Earth is believed to create massive columns of magma to swirl in the core. These columns are believed to produce the Earth’s magnetic field. This theory is based on the assumption that the Earth’s core is cooling and will eventually cool completely and cease to produce energy and a magnetic field. However, this theory does not answer many ongoing mysteries about the Earth, such as why the Earth’s magnetic field periodically shuts down, and questions about the energy production of the Earth. It was apparent that a new theory was needed to explain the mystery of the Earth’s core. The concept of nuclear fission within the earth started in the fifties. Geophysicists began to question whether natural occurring nuclear fission was possible. It seemed that it was a definite possibility and eventually, empirical evidence presented itself. In 1972 at the Oklo uranium mine in western Africa, a natural nuclear fission reactor was discovered deep within the earth. It was later determined that this reactor had been burning for almost two million years (Earth’s Core). The discovery provided an answer to the possibility of naturally occurring nuclear fission in the earth. The answer was yes. This led to more questions, however. What were the implications of such a process occurring naturally inside of the Earth? As time progressed, scientists learned more about naturally occurring reactors and new theories developed. Through observations of other planets, and observing the Earth in respect to the solar system, some bold new theories arose.