earth-interior

The Kola Superdeep Borehole reached 12,262 m, the deepest scientific drill hole. See how deep crust drilling works, what it found, and why it stopped.

No one has drilled to Earth's core. Scientists infer the interior from seismic waves, density, magnetism, meteorites, and high-pressure experiments.

Radioactive decay provides Earth's internal heat, drives plate tectonics, and powers the magnetic field. If it stopped, Earth would cool, tectonics would cease, the magnetic field would die, and life would face increased radiation. Over billions of years, Earth would become a cold, geologically dead world.