Mercur se micșorează mai repede decât se preconiza: diametrul său s-a redus cu 23 de kilometri / ”Imaginați-vă un balon umflat cu heliu: când începe să-și piardă gazul, suprafața se încrețește. Asta se întâmplă cu Mercur”

Recent measurements indicate that Mercury is contracting at a rate 30% faster than previously thought, with its diameter now estimated to be 23 kilometers smaller than earlier assessments. Geological evidence published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals new mountain ranges on the planet's surface, suggesting significant geological activity. As Mercury cools, its core solidifies, causing the crust to adapt and form these mountain chains. The upcoming BepiColombo mission aims to provide high-resolution data to further understand Mercury's internal evolution. Unlike Earth, Mercury's rigid crust does not recycle, leading to different geological dynamics.