The earth’s magnetic field aids navigation but also protects the planet from high-energy radiation from the sun. Based on the recent data, many experts believed the 10,000-year duration was an intrinsic property of the earth’s geodynamo, the process by which the churning of the liquid iron outer core generates the magnetic field. As these sediments accumulated, small magnetic minerals within the mud aligned themselves with the earth’s magnetic field. The researchers used X-ray scanning and magnetic measurements to ‘read’ these records. During a reversal, the magnetic field loses much of its strength.

Source: The Hindu March 12, 2026 02:55 UTC