Bermuda’s New Geological Mystery: 20 km Structure Stuns Scientists | WION Podcast

Welcome to the We On podcast, where we explore fascinating stories and ideas from various fields. In this episode, we uncover an astonishing discovery beneath Bermuda, where a 31-million-year-old event appears to have shaped a colossal, unexplained formation that challenges what scientists thought they knew about our planet's hidden depths. And just as one long-standing riddle lingers, a deeper and far older question begins to surface. Before one mystery could be solved about the Bermuda Triangle, another one has cropped up. Scientists have found a 20-kilometer-thick rock layer below the oceanic crust under Bermuda. Although this is not the only such layer on Earth, what's odd is that none is as thick as this one. Researchers say that typically, after the bottom of the ocean crust comes the mantle. But in Bermuda, there is this layer that should not exist. This other layer that is emplaced beneath the crust, within the tectonic plate that Bermuda sits on, study lead author William Fraser, a seismologist at Carnegie Science in Washington, D.C., said. The discovery was made using recordings of large earthquakes around the world from a seismic station on Bermuda. They were able to peer down 50 kilometers below Bermuda and examine the seismic waves. This is when they found this thick layer of rock. Bermuda is infamous for the disappearance of ships and planes, when seen in totality as a triangle, including Florida and Puerto Rico. But the other mystery about Bermuda is the oceanic swell that typically forms because of volcanic activity. However, the last volcanic eruption here was 31 million years ago, leaving scientists puzzled about what could have possibly formed this uplift. Oceanic swell is the point where the ocean crust is higher than its surroundings. The authors suggest that, even though there has been no recent eruption, the last one injected mantle rock into the crust. This is like a raft that has raised the ocean floor by about 1,640 feet, live science reported. Typically, islands like Hawaii are formed because of mantle hotspots where hot material rises, leading to an eruption. The point where the hotspot and the crust come together is pushed upwards. The crust later moves away from that hotspot due to tectonic activity, causing the swell to go down. But this hasn't happened in Bermuda, despite the last volcanic eruption on record occurring 31 million years ago. So what's really going on in the mantle under Bermuda is somewhat of a mystery. Fraser has started work on examining other islands to see if they have any similar layers. Thanks for tuning into this incredible story. If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to hit the like and subscribe button for more captivating stories to come. Stay tuned.