• Question: Do you think we will ever be able to reach the core/center of the earth?

    Asked by ellz13 to Angus, Christian, Hannah, Laura, Simon on 20 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Simon Holyoake

      Simon Holyoake answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I don’t think we will…. so far with all of our technology we have still not been able to drill through the crust, the crust is an extremely thin layer compared to the magma beneath it

      Then you have the challenge of both intense heat and incredible pressure (the core is currently estimated to be approximately the same temperature as the surface of the sun!!) as well as how do you actually ‘drill’ through liquid? how would a tunnel stay open?

      I think we will soon be able to drill through the crust, but I doubt very much that we’ll ever be able to drill down into the core!

    • Photo: Hannah Bentham

      Hannah Bentham answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      Unfortunately I don’t think so. The heat and pressure would be too much for us. “The Core” suggests Unobtainium could be used to make a ship but I think the clue is in the name!

      It would be cool though. I always wondered what the core-mantle boundary is like and whether you could holiday at a basal magma ocean 🙂

    • Photo: Angus Ferraro

      Angus Ferraro answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      As the others have said, it would be ridiculously difficult! The film ‘The Core’ isn’t at all realistic 😉

    • Photo: Laura Roberts Artal

      Laura Roberts Artal answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I agree with the other scientist. As cool as it would be and as helpful as it would be for my research to go there, I think it is unlikely we will ever develop the technology.

    • Photo: Christian Maerz

      Christian Maerz answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      Probably not, it is way too hot and the pressure is too high.

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