Scientist Outlines Plan to Probe Earth’s Middle

I heard an interview with this guy on NPR. The week long pace is about the same speed at a jog and the distance about that of the west coast to St Louis (I think). Anyway, the theory is a brain-child right now and there is no real physical technology to run this test right now. But, it's an idea and science needs an idea as a starting point for building a method.

I think it would be very cool indeed. So long as it doesn't irritate any fault lines.

My guess is the crack would only open down about 2 miles instead of 2000 miles and most of it would snap shut in seconds spraying the molten iron miles into the atmosphere, It would be raining teardrop shaped cannon balls down wind for several minutes. Neil

Nut case!

Let him test his theory on an uninhabited planet or three first...

Sounds like a prescription for disaster, meaning, they will probably try to do it.

I assume that drilling down is not a viable alternative to blowing bloody great holes in the earth's crust?

If they can make probes that can withstand those conditions, why don't they just start putting bunches of them into existing magma tubes (volcano's), and get them going that way?

I think this guy just likes playing with big bombs.

doesn't everybody?

I don't know why he doesn't just lower a rope ladder, and climb down!

and no lilK; it is definitly NOT a "cool" idea!
we're talking "asbestos underwear"!

You might take a look at superdeep borehole, GD. 12k was about it, and I have no idea what they used for a drilling fluid to keep the hole from collapsing. Anyway, the forces were high enough they couldn't use conventional rotary drilling equipment and developed a turbine attached to the bottom stand of the work string, which was powered by the drilling mud being pumped down the pipe. Something similar is now in use for directional drilling, and I believe it followed the Russian developement. I would have loved to watch them trip out of the hole to change a dull bit.

There! Aren't you glad you asked?

Roger, I clicked Super Deep Borehole and got a The page cannot be displayed message.

It did work for me about an hour ago. Interesting, although some of the geology was a bit beyond my understanding.

Dunno, Mapleleaf. I tested it when I first posted it, and it's working now. No biggie. The point is more that a 12 km borehole was pretty much at the outer limits of the technology. We've probably going to have to stay with indirect readings on the core, as this two megaton plan is too improbable for words.