Scientists drilled the deepest hole in human history to uncover the mysteries beneath Earth’s surface. What they found shocked the world—from unexpected temperatures to strange geological formations.

The depths of Earth have puzzled the scientific community for millennia. For many years, we only had access to natural holes, even though many haven't been explored until fairly recently.

Potential patches of Earth's ancient crust, sometimes called "sunken worlds," may have just been discovered deep within the mantle, thanks to a new way of mapping the inside of our planet.