# Huge Gravity Anomaly Discovered! Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eMErDbifeI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/_eMErDbifeI Generated: 2025-11-25T16:40:19.661+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Researchers using GRACE satellite data detected a rapid, transient gravity anomaly originating near the African coast between 2006 and 2008, which they suggest reflects a mineral phase transition of bridgmanite deep within the Earth's mantle, causing mass redistribution and a corresponding change in the magnetic field that was not fully explained by surface water variations. **Key Points:** - A rapid, transient gravitational anomaly, 7000 km long, occurred off the coast of Africa between 2006 and 2008. - This anomaly, observed by the GRACE satellites, is too fast and deep to be fully explained by surface water mass redistribution. - The data suggests the anomaly reflects a phase transition of bridgmanite, a major mineral in the lower mantle (around 3000 km deep), from the pPv phase to the Pv phase. - This phase transition caused a localized mass excess (upward movement) and mass default (downward movement) near the core-mantle boundary (CMB), resulting in a measurable gravity change. - The change in gravitational pull coincided with a similar, rapid change observed in the Earth's magnetic field, suggesting a link between deep mantle processes and the magnetic field. - The GRACE mission (2002–2017) and its successor GRACE-FO (2018–present) provide the foundational data for measuring these month-to-month gravity changes. - The video promotes the Vsauce Curiosity Box subscription service, featuring items like a reversible scarf and an orrery calendar. ![Screenshot at 00:04: The presenter introduces the core concept by stating that we live on a thin, solid surface of a planet that is still hot and liquid in the core, setting up the discussion about deep Earth processes.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_eMErDbifeI/00-00-04.png) **Context:** The video, presented by Sabine Hossenfelder, discusses new geophysical findings regarding transient gravity anomalies detected by the GRACE satellite mission, which measures month-to-month changes in Earth's gravity field. The focus is on an unexplained anomaly detected off the coast of Africa between 2006 and 2008, which scientists now hypothesize is caused by a phase transition of bridgmanite, a high-pressure mineral in the Earth's deep mantle, potentially linking deep Earth dynamics to surface gravity and magnetic field variations. ## Detailed Analysis Sabine Hossenfelder reports on a fascinating and creepy discovery: a gravitational anomaly detected by the GRACE satellites between 2006 and 2008 that stretched 7000 km along the west coast of Africa. This anomaly changed rapidly over a few years, moving north to south, and was too large and fast to be explained by surface water changes alone. Researchers suggest this rapid change reflects a mineral phase transition deep within the Earth's mantle, approximately 3000 km down, where bridgmanite (pPv) transforms into the denser phase, Pv. This transition creates a localized mass excess (upward movement, illustrated by a 180m displacement) and a mass default (downward movement, 12cm displacement) at the core-mantle boundary (CMB), which the satellites measured as a gravity change. Coincidentally, this gravity change aligns with a rapid, similar change in the Earth's magnetic field observed in the same region during the same time, though the exact causal link remains unclear. The video also highlights the history of the GRACE mission (2002–2017) and its successor GRACE-FO (2018–present), which use laser ranging interferometry to measure these tiny gravity variations. Finally, the video transitions to promoting the Vsauce Curiosity Box subscription for thinkers. ### GRACE Mission Overview - GRACE mission (2002–2017) measured month-to-month gravity changes in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center - GRACE-FO (2018–present) continues observations using new laser-ranging interferometry (LRI) with GFZ German Research Center - GRACE-Continuity is scheduled for 2028 to expand foundational mass change measurements. ### Deep Earth Anomaly - Researchers found a rapid gravity change (2006–2008) off the African coast, 7000 km long, too fast for surface water explanation - This suggests a mineral phase transition of bridgmanite (pPv to Pv) deep in the mantle, causing a mass excess/default near the CMB (03:10). ### Gravity and Magnetism Link - The deep mass change coincided with a rapid change in the magnetic field observed in the same region, although the exact relationship is unclear (04:34). ### Curiosity Box Promotion - The video features the Vsauce Curiosity Box subscription, showing items like a geodesic globe, a Robinson Crusoe book, an orrery calendar, and a reversible scarf, offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal. ![Screenshot at 00:09: Illustration comparing the Earth's internal structure \(core, mantle, crust\) with that of the Sun, emphasizing the hot, liquid core of the Earth.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_eMErDbifeI/00-00-09.png) ![Screenshot at 01:04: Diagram illustrating the GRACE twin satellites orbiting Earth at 490km altitude, separated by 220km, exchanging laser signals to measure gravity variations.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_eMErDbifeI/00-01-04.png) ![Screenshot at 02:24: A chart titled 'Magnetic Field, Spherical Harmonics' showing fluctuations in magnetic field components \(n=1 to n=6\) from 2002 to 2010, with a sharp spike around 2006–2007.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_eMErDbifeI/00-02-24.png) ![Screenshot at 03:10: Diagram illustrating the proposed mechanism: a phase transition of bridgmanite causing a mass excess \(upward bulge, 180m\) and mass default \(downward depression, 12cm\) at the CMB.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_eMErDbifeI/00-03-10.png) ![Screenshot at 04:43: A world map showing the predicted magnetic field strength \(F in nT\) for 2025.0, clearly displaying the large, intense low-field anomaly centered over the South Atlantic/South America region.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_eMErDbifeI/00-04-43.png)