Scientists say sun's influence penetrates into deep Earth

For years, scientists believed that changes in the Earth's interior, such as volcanic eruptions and tectonic plate collisions, primarily affected the surface environment. Events such as the mass extinction around 66 million years ago and the transitions between icehouse and greenhouse climates were thought to be driven mainly by these deep Earth processes. However, a new study published in Nature Communications has revealed a surprising new aspect: solar radiation can also affect the Earth's deep interior.