Jules Verne was all like “Underground seas and dinosaurs, dude!” But Inge Lehmann found something way weirder in the Earth’s core.
Earth has always been a source of inspiration for both literature and science, but reality has a way of outdoing fiction. Just take the case of Inge Lehmann, who shattered myths and opened new doors in the field of seismology.
From Hollow Earth myths to seismic revelations
Back in the day, people believed the Earth was hollow, with hidden worlds beneath the surface. Julio Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth fed into this fantasy, creating a classic science fiction tale filled with underground seas and prehistoric creatures.
But in 1936, Inge Lehmann changed the game. By studying seismic waves generated by earthquakes, she proved that the Earth’s core was not a uniform block as previously thought. Her work unveiled the planet’s secret architecture and debunked the myth of a hollow Earth.
The earthquake that uncovered a secret
It all started with an earthquake in New Zealand in 1929, where Lehmann observed anomalies in the propagation of seismic waves. This led to the groundbreaking discovery of a solid inner core surrounded by a liquid outer core. Her findings, known as the “Lehmann Discontinuity,” revolutionized modern seismology.
A trailblazer ahead of her time
In a male-dominated scientific world, Lehmann faced numerous challenges and prejudices. Despite the odds, she led the seismic department and became chair of the . Her legacy lives on as one of the brightest minds of the 20th century, proving that even an earthquake can open a window to the planet’s mysteries.
