New study suggests Uranus and Neptune have layered interiors with deep water oceans, explaining their magnetic fields.

A new study by Burkhard Militzer from UC Berkeley suggests that Uranus and Neptune have layered interiors, including deep oceans of water under their atmospheres, which could explain their unusual magnetic fields. Unlike Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn, these layers prevent the convection needed for a strong magnetic field. Militzer's model shows a water-rich layer, followed by a hydrocarbon-rich layer and a small rocky core, similar to Mercury in Uranus and Mars in Neptune.

November 25, 2024
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