The Earth’s core is an incredibly fascinating and extreme environment. It is composed primarily of iron and nickel and consists of two main parts: the solid inner core and the liquid outer core. The temperature in the Earth’s core is estimated to be between 5,000 to 7,000 degrees Celsius (9,032 to 12,632 degrees Fahrenheit). This is indeed hotter than the surface of the Sun, which has a temperature of about 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,932 degrees Fahrenheit).

The immense heat in the Earth’s core is generated by several factors, including the decay of radioactive isotopes, residual heat from the planet’s formation, and the intense pressure from the overlying layers. This heat drives the movement of molten iron in the outer core, creating the Earth’s magnetic field through a process known as the geodynamo.

Comparatively, the Sun’s surface, also known as the photosphere, is cooler than the core due to the way heat is transported outward. The Sun’s core, where nuclear fusion occurs, reaches temperatures of around 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit), much hotter than both the Earth’s core and the Sun’s surface.

This incredible fact highlights the dynamic and powerful forces at work within our planet, which, despite being hidden deep beneath our feet, play a crucial role in shaping the Earth’s magnetic field and contributing to the conditions that make life possible on the surface.