Scientists have uncovered evidence of an enormous underground water reservoir located about 400 miles beneath the planet’s surface, estimated to be three times the volume of all Earth’s oceans combined.
According to Nature World News, this astonishing discovery centers around a deep-Earth mineral called ringwoodite, which acts like a super-dense sponge. Under intense heat and pressure in the mantle, it traps water in a form that isn’t liquid, solid, or gas, but something in between. Researchers detected this reservoir by analyzing seismic waves from earthquakes. When those waves passed through zones rich in ringwoodite, they slowed down, signaling the presence of water.
This hidden ocean challenges long-held theories about Earth’s origins and water cycle. It suggests that Earth’s water may not have come solely from comets or surface interactions, but has possibly been cycling through the planet’s interior for billions of years.