The Mystery Of The Solar System Deepens… Uranus And Neptune Are Not What We Thought For Decades!

A new study from the University of Zurich found that Uranus and Neptune may contain much larger amounts of rock than previously thought.

The study does not confirm that the two planets are specifically rocky or water-rich. Rather, it shows that the current data does not impose a single explanation that says that the inner core of these planets necessarily consists of ice. The two planets may, in fact, be like “rocky giants.”

This is consistent with a previous discovery that Pluto, despite being classified as a dwarf planet, contains mostly rocks.

To get a glimpse into the interior of the two planets for which we have only limited data, scientists devised a clever simulation approach that combines theoretical physics with practical measurements, while avoiding large a priori assumptions.

“Our previous physical models were full of assumptions, while experimental models were very simple,” explained lead researcher Luca Murph. “We combined the two methods to obtain models that are objective and yet compatible with the laws of physics.”

The method of work depends on generating random internal models of the planet, then calculating the gravitational field that will result from them, and comparing it to what has already been observed. This process is repeated thousands of times until we obtain models that best agree with all available information.

Through this neutral method, it turns out that the traditional picture of the hearts of Uranus and Neptune is not so simple. Their internal composition does not seem to be limited to a choice between ice or rock only. Rather, the results revealed complex and flexible scenarios: the planet may have deep layers rich in water in the form of a dense ionic liquid, or it may have a largely rocky core that dominates most of its mass.

The combination between these two elements may be completely different from what we imagined, which opens the door to new possibilities that challenge the traditional binary classification and brings us a step closer to understanding their true nature, which still needs future space missions to reveal conclusively.

“This is what we suspected 15 years ago, and now we have the digital evidence to support it,” explains Professor Ravit Held, the research supervisor.

The models also provided a new explanation for the irregular magnetic field of the two planets, which differs from the Earth’s dipole magnetic field.

“Our models indicate the presence of layers of ‘ionic water’ that generate multipolar magnetic fields, and Uranus’ magnetic field emanates from a greater depth than Neptune’s,” Held says.

Although the study provides new explanations, there is a lack of knowledge about the behavior of materials under high pressure and temperature inside planets.

The team confirms that current data is not sufficient to determine the true composition of Uranus and Neptune, and that it is not possible to separate the “ice giant” from the “rock giant” except by sending specialized exploratory missions to the two planets.

Source: Daily Science