Earth Massive ocean discovered beneath the Earth's crust

A massive ocean is hidden under Earth's crust, discovered 400 miles underground in a rock called "ringwoodite."

The water is in a fourth state, not a liquid, solid, or gas, and was found by scientists in 2014.

Ringwoodite's crystal structure can trap water, allowing it to contain a lot of water in the deep mantle.

The discovery may explain the abundance of liquid water on Earth's surface, and scientists have searched for it for decades.

Scientists found the water by studying shockwaves from earthquakes under Earth's surface.

If the rock contained just 1% water, it would mean there is three times more water under Earth's surface than in the oceans.

Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen explains that ringwoodite is like a sponge that soaks up water.

The discovery of the water may help establish a whole-Earth water cycle.

The water is contained in mantle rock and may help to explain the dynamic and complex nature of Earth's geological processes.

The discovery of this massive hidden ocean is an exciting and mind-blowing scientific discovery.