✉news ScienceScience first seen 14 h ago, last 4 h ago, peak #2
Mercury is shrinking faster than scientists thought
Original: Mercury is shrinking faster than anyone thought
New research indicates Mercury is contracting more quickly than previously estimated. The smallest planet in the solar system has been cooling and shrinking for billions of years, causing its crust to buckle and form cliffs and ridges. The revised findings suggest this process is still active and accelerating relative to earlier models, prompting scientists to rethink how rocky planets cool over time.
Why now: A newly published study revises estimates of Mercury's contraction, drawing attention from science audiences.
Evidence
- Mercury is shrinking faster than anyone thought · BBC Science Focus Magazine
API: https://socialmediatrends-api.osmike.com/v1/trends/93110