The Mystery of Jupiter's Strange Core Can Finally Be Explained

Jupiter holds secrets at its heart that continue to puzzle scientists.

The largest planet in our Solar System has what researchers call a "dilute core" – a central region that doesn't have sharp boundaries like once expected. Instead of a distinct rocky centre surrounded by layers of gas, Jupiter's core gradually blends into the hydrogen-rich layers above it, creating a smooth transition zone.

This unusual structure was first discovered by NASA's Juno spacecraft, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016. The finding surprised astronomers, who had assumed giant planets would have more clearly defined cores.

The mystery deepened when observations revealed that Saturn appears to have a similar dilute core structure.

One popular explanation for Jupiter's fuzzy core involved a catastro