Scientists have discovered water locked in the mineral ringwoodite deep in the Earth's crust. The mineral acts as a sponge holding water that could fill the Earth's oceans three times over. According to a study published in the journal Science, the water on Earth may have come from within the planet, emerging to the surface as a result of geological activity. This challenges the theory that water was deposited on Earth by icy comets.
"Scientists have been looking for this missing deep water for decades," said Northwestern University geophysicist Steve Jacobsen and co-author of the study. Jacobsen drops by to discuss this ground-breaking discovery and how this transforms our understanding of the planet going forward.
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