Science · 11 September 2026
Mercury may have shrunk 30% more than scientists first thought
Unsplash / NASA
Our solar system's smallest planet, Mercury, has likely shrunk significantly more than previously believed, according to new research. Scientists used data from NASA's MESSENGER mission to map Mercury's surface and found fewer cracks where debris obscured them. Mercury's contraction may be about 7.2 miles in radius, up to 30% more than earlier estimates.
Reported by CNN · How we write briefs