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The Core

Episode 4 of 15

For centuries people have dreamt of reaching the centre of the Earth. Now scientists are uncovering a bizarre and alien world that lies 4,000 miles beneath our feet.

For centuries we have dreamt of reaching the centre of the Earth. Now scientists are uncovering a bizarre and alien world that lies 4,000 miles beneath our feet, unlike anything we know on the surface. It is a planet buried within the planet we know, where storms rage within a sea of white-hot metal and a giant forest of crystals make up a metal core the size of the moon.

Horizon follows scientists who are conducting experiments to recreate this core within their own laboratories, with surprising results.

1 hour

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:11

    Klaus Badelt

    Nowhere To Run

  • 00:39

    BRAThANKI

    Let's Make The Water Turn Black

Professor Kei Hirose

Professor Kei Hirose
Professor Kei Hirose has managed to recreate the extreme temperatures and pressures found at the centre of the earth somewhere rather more convenient to study: his own laboratory.


Professor Dan Lathrop

Professor Dan Lathrop

Professor Dan Lathrop has built a 3 metre model of the earth鈥檚 core which he plans to fill with twelve metric tons of liquid sodium, and then spin at up to eighty-five miles an hour.

Magnetic mysteries of Earth's Core

Magnetic mysteries of Earth's Core
Earthquakes, explosions and observations of Earth's ever-changing magnetic field are helping scientists open up a new window on the heart of our planet.


Credits

Role Contributor
Director Tristan Quinn
Producer Gaby Hornsby
Series Editor Aidan Laverty

Broadcasts

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