Tiny circumstances shape planetary evolution

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The size and composition of planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are largely influenced by small details and circumstances. For instance, Mercury's small size and large iron core are attributed to a giant impact early in its history. The difference between Venus and Earth's surface environments is explained by Venus being slightly closer to the sun, leading to a runaway greenhouse effect. Mars, which is smaller than planetary formation models predict, is believed to have been affected by Jupiter's disruptive influence during its formation. Each planet's evolution is determined by individual circumstances and factors present in their vicinity.

The radius of the Earth is over 6,000 kilometers, but the deepest we've ever dug below the surface is only about 12 km. Yet we have a quite reliable idea of the structure of the Earth's interior -- inner core, outer core, mantle, crust -- not to mention pretty good pictures of what's going on inside some other planets. How do we know those things, and what new things are we learning in the exoplanet era? I talk with astrophysicist and planetary scientist Sabine Stanley about how we use gravitation, seismology, magnetic fields, and other tools to learn what's happening inside planets.

Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/01/29/264-sabine-stanley-on-whats-inside-planets/

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Sabine Stanley received a Ph.D. in geophysics from Harvard University. She is currently a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University. She has been awarded the William Gilbert Award from the American Geophysical Union. Her recent book is What's Hidden Inside Planets?

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