BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
How do scientists measure shrinkage?
Scientists analyse images of Mercury's surface, looking for features like 'lobate scarps' – cliff-like structures formed when the crust buckles. By mapping these features and understanding how they relate to the planet's overall shape, researchers can estimate how much the planet has contracted. The new study found more of these features than expected.
Stories that explain this
Mercury may have shrunk 30% more than scientists first thoughtRelated explainers
Why is Mercury shrinking? What is MESSENGER? How do scientists measure speed? Who are the Cambridge scientists? What are 'control measures'? What does a cyber test measure? What happens to disqualified scientists? Who measures inflation?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under S →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.