THE RACE TO THE PLANET'S CORE: CHINA, THE USA, OR RUSSIA—WHO WILL BE FIRST?
Why are three powers simultaneously drilling deeper than ever before in history? In this investigation, we examine the new race to the Earth's mantle.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole, China's Taklaman Desert Borehole, the Mengxiang drilling vessel, and the Quaise Energy gyrotron are no longer isolated experiments, but rather signs of a global technological leap into the planet's depths.
In this video, you'll learn what was discovered at a depth of 12 kilometers on the Kola Peninsula, why oil and gas were discovered 10+ kilometers beneath Taklaman, how microwave drilling can open access to depths of 20 kilometers, and why China is trying to reach the Earth's mantle through the ocean floor. We also explore how ultra-deep drilling relates to geothermal energy, energy security, resource extraction, induced seismicity, and earthquake risk in old fault zones.
This is a scientific investigation into geology, deep wells, faults, the Earth's mantle, and why our models of the Earth's interior repeatedly break down when humans descend deeper than 10 kilometers. The Kola Superdeep, the East African Rift Valley, Santorini, the New Madrid Fault, microcracks, pressure, supercritical water, temperatures of 180 degrees where 100 was expected—all of this adds up to one alarming question: what will happen if humanity begins drilling en masse in areas with no international regulations and almost no data?
If you're interested in geology, earthquakes, ultra-deep drilling, scientific documentaries, and major studies of the planet, subscribe and share your opinions in the comments.
Timestamps:
00:00 The Race to the Depths Begins
01:02 The Kola Superdeep: The First Breakthrough
01:53 Temperature, Microbes, and Gases at Depth
03:17 China, the US, and the New Global Race
04:41 Why Drill 20 Kilometers
05:42 China's Strategy and Quaise Technology
07:46 Resources, Rules, and the Gray Zone
08:18 Drilling and Induced Earthquakes
10:52 The African Rift and the Acceleration of Processes
12:28 Santorini and the Collapse of Geological Models
15:01 What the Kola Borehole Taught Us
16:10 Mengxiang and the Path to the Mantle
17:24 Gyrotron and Microwave Drilling
18:42 What Will Happen at a Depth of 20 Kilometers
20:46 Finale: The Door We're Already Opening
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