Science and Technology News

New Study on Mercury

September 19 , 2026 8 hrs 0 min 22 0

A new study suggests that Mercury may have contracted 10–30% more than earlier estimates, as its interior cooled over billions of years.
Researchers estimate that Mercury’s radius may have decreased by about 7.2 miles (11.6 km) due to the cooling and contraction of its interior.
The study used data from NASA’s MESSENGER mission to map Mercury’s surface roughness.
Impact debris from asteroids and comets may have hidden some cliffs, wrinkles and ridges caused by Mercury’s contraction.
Mercury’s shrinkage could provide clues about its metallic core, interior structure, geological history and magnetic field.