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Scientists say Earth is cooling far faster than we thought — and will turn into a dead, rocky planet like Mars much sooner than expected.

New research suggests that Earth’s core may be losing heat far quicker than scientists once believed — a finding that could reshape our understanding of the planet’s long-term evolution.

Researchers from ETH Zurich and the Carnegie Institution for Science simulated deep-Earth conditions by subjecting the mineral bridgmanite, found at the boundary between the core and mantle, to extreme heat and pressure.

They discovered that bridgmanite conducts heat about 1.5 times more efficiently than previously assumed, meaning Earth is cooling more rapidly than expected.

This accelerated cooling could have serious implications. It could lead to the eventual slowing—and possible halting—of convection currents that drive plate tectonics and sustain Earth's magnetic field. While researchers can't say exactly how quickly this process will unfold, the findings suggest Earth may follow a similar path to rocky planets like Mercury and Mars, which have cooled and become geologically inactive. It’s a stark reminder that even our dynamic planet is slowly winding down—just on a timescale we’re only beginning to understand.