Hey, Welcome to Sign Stuff, a production of iHeartRadio. My name is Jorge cham and today we are digging deep into the question what happens if you dig a hole to the center of the earth. It's a question most of us have asked when we were making a hole in our yards or at the beach. Is it actually possible to dig all the way through? Or would you perish in the process. We're going to talk to people whose jobs it is to dig the deepest holes humans have ever dug, and we're going to take a journey with one of them to see how far we can get. So let's dive in and answer the question what happens if you dig a hole to the center of the Earth. I promise it won't be a bore. Welcome to sign Stuff. Okay, here's a list of the top five deepest holes humans have ever dug. Numbers five through three are oil wheels that were dug in the Gulf of Mexico or at least what do you speak called the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Texas and Louzy. They have names like two to five, that zero one or GC five one two number one, BP two and they go down to about the same depth, which is around ten and a half kilometers straight down. The second deepest hole ever dug is called tiber Kse one two, and it's also an oil well. But notably it was dug in two thousand and nine by deep Water Horizon, the powerful digging rig that seven months later, while trying to drill its next hole, exploded and caused the largest oil spill in human history. Tiber Kse one two is a hole that goes down ten kilometers six hundred and eighty three meters straight down. But the deepest hole ever dug by humans is a little bit deeper. It's called SG three or the coalis Super Deep borehole, and it was dug over a period of twenty years as a classified, top secret research project by Russian scientists. It's in the part of Russia that borders Norway and Finland, in the Scandinavian Peninsula. The hole is about nine inches wide and it goes down to a death of twelve kilometers two hundred and sixty two meters or about twenty eight Empire state buildings stacked on top of each other. Now, these are really deep holes in human terms, but they're actually kind of shallow if you compare them to the size of the Earth. The Earth is twelve thousand, seven hundred and fifty six kilometers wide, which means the deepest holes we've ever dug are barely zero point one percent of the way through. So the main questions we're answering today are why did the people making these holes stop digging, what would have happened if they had kept going? And is it even possible to get to the center of the Earth. To answer these questions, we're going to do three things. We're going to find out why so hard to dig a really deep hole, Then we're going to talk about the cool technology people are using to dig deeper and deeper, and then at the end we'll ask experts if it's it's even possible to dig all the way to the center of the earth. Okay, So the first thing I did was I reached out to people whose job it is to dig super deep holes. The first person I talked to was doctor Eric van Ord, the professor in the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering the University of Texas at Austin, and he is an expert in drilling hydraulic fracturing and geomechanics. I basically asked him point blank, why is it so hard to dig a really deep hole? So here's my conversation with doctor Eric van Ort. Well, thank you so much, professor van Ord for joining us.

Hey, Welcome to Sign Stuff, a production of iHeartRadio. My name is Jorge cham and today we are digging deep into the question what happens if you dig a hole to the center of the earth. It's a question most of us have asked when we were making a hole in our yards or at the beach. Is it actually possible to dig all the way through? Or would you perish in the process. We're going to talk to people whose jobs it is to dig the deepest holes humans have ever dug, and we're going to take a journey with one of them to see how far we can get. So let's dive in and answer the question what happens if you dig a hole to the center of the Earth. I promise it won't be a bore. Welcome to sign Stuff. Okay, here's a list of the top five deepest holes humans have ever dug. Numbers five through three are oil wheels that were dug in the Gulf of Mexico or at least what do you speak called the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Texas and Louzy. They have names like two to five, that zero one or GC five one two number one, BP two and they go down to about the same depth, which is around ten and a half kilometers straight down. The second deepest hole ever dug is called tiber Kse one two, and it's also an oil well. But notably it was dug in two thousand and nine by deep Water Horizon, the powerful digging rig that seven months later, while trying to drill its next hole, exploded and caused the largest oil spill in human history. Tiber Kse one two is a hole that goes down ten kilometers six hundred and eighty three meters straight down. But the deepest hole ever dug by humans is a little bit deeper. It's called SG three or the coalis Super Deep borehole, and it was dug over a period of twenty years as a classified, top secret research project by Russian scientists. It's in the part of Russia that borders Norway and Finland, in the Scandinavian Peninsula. The hole is about nine inches wide and it goes down to a death of twelve kilometers two hundred and sixty two meters or about twenty eight Empire state buildings stacked on top of each other. Now, these are really deep holes in human terms, but they're actually kind of shallow if you compare them to the size of the Earth. The Earth is twelve thousand, seven hundred and fifty six kilometers wide, which means the deepest holes we've ever dug are barely zero point one percent of the way through. So the main questions we're answering today are why did the people making these holes stop digging, what would have happened if they had kept going? And is it even possible to get to the center of the Earth. To answer these questions, we're going to do three things. We're going to find out why so hard to dig a really deep hole, Then we're going to talk about the cool technology people are using to dig deeper and deeper, and then at the end we'll ask experts if it's it's even possible to dig all the way to the center of the earth. Okay, So the first thing I did was I reached out to people whose job it is to dig super deep holes. The first person I talked to was doctor Eric van Ord, the professor in the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering the University of Texas at Austin, and he is an expert in drilling hydraulic fracturing and geomechanics. I basically asked him point blank, why is it so hard to dig a really deep hole? So here's my conversation with doctor Eric van Ort. Well, thank you so much, professor van Ord for joining us.

Happy to be here.

Happy to be here.

Now. You're expert in drilling engineering, and so I have a lot of questions for you that I really want to drill into but intended. Yeah, can you talk to us a little bit about what are some of the challenges that you run into when you try to drill into the ground.

Now. You're expert in drilling engineering, and so I have a lot of questions for you that I really want to drill into but intended. Yeah, can you talk to us a little bit about what are some of the challenges that you run into when you try to drill into the ground.

Well, we drill into the ground to explore and produce oil and gosh, but also to explore and produce geothermal heat, to store CO two and waste underground. Sometimes even build repositories for nuclear waste that could be stored underground. So different wells have different challenges. Formations are unconsolidated. That means that they're not holding together right as a problem with the stability of the well board that you could sometimes see.

Well, we drill into the ground to explore and produce oil and gosh, but also to explore and produce geothermal heat, to store CO two and waste underground. Sometimes even build repositories for nuclear waste that could be stored underground. So different wells have different challenges. Formations are unconsolidated. That means that they're not holding together right as a problem with the stability of the well board that you could sometimes see.

Okay, the first challenge in digging a really deep hole is that deep holes don't want to stay holes for very long. They tend to collapse. Like deferend Or compares it to trying to dig a hole in the sand at the beach.

Okay, the first challenge in digging a really deep hole is that deep holes don't want to stay holes for very long. They tend to collapse. Like deferend Or compares it to trying to dig a hole in the sand at the beach.

If you've ever been digging a hole on the beach as a kid, you get very frustrated, right, because will you want to drill the deepest hole possible, right, go to the center of the earth, right, and you're thwarted by the fact that you can only get to a certain depth and no deeper right.

If you've ever been digging a hole on the beach as a kid, you get very frustrated, right, because will you want to drill the deepest hole possible, right, go to the center of the earth, right, and you're thwarted by the fact that you can only get to a certain depth and no deeper right.

Right.

Right.

So that happens even in solid rock.

So that happens even in solid rock.

Even in solid rock, I mean, when you drill a borehole, what the Earth wants to do is close that borehole.

Even in solid rock, I mean, when you drill a borehole, what the Earth wants to do is close that borehole.

Again, what do you mean that nature wants to close the hole?

Again, what do you mean that nature wants to close the hole?

Well, in the earth, right, you have stresses acting on the borehole. The weight of the rock on top is the vertical stress, and then there are horizontal stresses because of tectonic movements, and those stresses act on the borehole and they would collapse the borehole and you would lose it eventually.

Well, in the earth, right, you have stresses acting on the borehole. The weight of the rock on top is the vertical stress, and then there are horizontal stresses because of tectonic movements, and those stresses act on the borehole and they would collapse the borehole and you would lose it eventually.

So, just like digging a hole in the sand at the beach, eventually deep holes collapse. Even when you're digging through solid rock. Eventually, the sheer weight of all the rock around your hole is going to want to close your hole. There is a clever solution for that.

So, just like digging a hole in the sand at the beach, eventually deep holes collapse. Even when you're digging through solid rock. Eventually, the sheer weight of all the rock around your hole is going to want to close your hole. There is a clever solution for that.

So we need to stabilize the hole as we're drilling it. We typically do that by circulating a drilling fluid that provides kind of hydrostatic pressure to keep the borehole open it meaning.

So we need to stabilize the hole as we're drilling it. We typically do that by circulating a drilling fluid that provides kind of hydrostatic pressure to keep the borehole open it meaning.

You fill it with like water or oil.

You fill it with like water or oil.

Water or oil that we can change the density of. So we have the ability to change the density and thereby the hydrostatic pressure that is being exerted onto the poorhole wall.

Water or oil that we can change the density of. So we have the ability to change the density and thereby the hydrostatic pressure that is being exerted onto the poorhole wall.

And that prevents the whole from caving in.

And that prevents the whole from caving in.

That prevents the hole from collapsing.

That prevents the hole from collapsing.

The other thing that makes being really deep whole heart is temperature.

The other thing that makes being really deep whole heart is temperature.

In the center of the Earth, the temperature is six thousand kelvin. It's the same temperature as the surface of the Sun. The sun, of course, at its core is millions of degreas, but the surface of the Sun is about six thousand calvin And that's also the temperature in the center of the Earth.

In the center of the Earth, the temperature is six thousand kelvin. It's the same temperature as the surface of the Sun. The sun, of course, at its core is millions of degreas, but the surface of the Sun is about six thousand calvin And that's also the temperature in the center of the Earth.

Wow.

Wow.

And then there's a temperature gradient going to the outside.

And then there's a temperature gradient going to the outside.

Meaning six thousand degrees of the center. But it gets cooler as you go up to the surface.

Meaning six thousand degrees of the center. But it gets cooler as you go up to the surface.

Yep. But the deeper you go into the Earth, the higher the temperature.

Yep. But the deeper you go into the Earth, the higher the temperature.

And why is the earth hot inside.

And why is the earth hot inside.

It's because of the formation of the Earth. So what we call primordial heat, heat that got trapped when the Earth formed.

It's because of the formation of the Earth. So what we call primordial heat, heat that got trapped when the Earth formed.

So the Earth is hot inside, which is a little odd to think about because which is the giant rock floating out in the coldness of space? So where did all that heat come from? Well, it came from two places, according to doctor Van Ord. Number one, when the Earth was formed, meaning when all those rocks and dust in the early Solar systems scrunched together to form the Earth. The scrunching generated a lot of heat, and also the Earth kick getting hit by asteroids and giant rocks that were zooming around the early Solar System. It's sort of like if you take a mass of clay and you beat it with your hands that were mallet Eventually it heats up, and that's what happened to the Earth. In fact, at some point the Earth was so hot it was just a big ball of lava. And number two, the Earth is also hot because there are radioactive elements inside the Earth, like uranium and plutonium that are decaying, essentially nuking the Earth from the inside. So as you dig deeper, it gets hotter. How hot here's how doctor Van Ord puts it.

So the Earth is hot inside, which is a little odd to think about because which is the giant rock floating out in the coldness of space? So where did all that heat come from? Well, it came from two places, according to doctor Van Ord. Number one, when the Earth was formed, meaning when all those rocks and dust in the early Solar systems scrunched together to form the Earth. The scrunching generated a lot of heat, and also the Earth kick getting hit by asteroids and giant rocks that were zooming around the early Solar System. It's sort of like if you take a mass of clay and you beat it with your hands that were mallet Eventually it heats up, and that's what happened to the Earth. In fact, at some point the Earth was so hot it was just a big ball of lava. And number two, the Earth is also hot because there are radioactive elements inside the Earth, like uranium and plutonium that are decaying, essentially nuking the Earth from the inside. So as you dig deeper, it gets hotter. How hot here's how doctor Van Ord puts it.

The Earth is a really good insulator. The amount of heat that it chops is obsolutely massive. It's an amazing amount of heat is phenomenal. And even though Earth radiates heat into cold space all the time, to give you a comparison, if you look at all the energy that humanity uses around the world at any given point in time, it's about fifteen tertra wats, and the Earth radiates into the space about fifty terrawatts of heat energy all the time.

The Earth is a really good insulator. The amount of heat that it chops is obsolutely massive. It's an amazing amount of heat is phenomenal. And even though Earth radiates heat into cold space all the time, to give you a comparison, if you look at all the energy that humanity uses around the world at any given point in time, it's about fifteen tertra wats, and the Earth radiates into the space about fifty terrawatts of heat energy all the time.

Oh wow.

Oh wow.

Even then with that phenomenal amount of energy that it loses, even over forty billion years, it has hardly lost any significant amount of heat.

Even then with that phenomenal amount of energy that it loses, even over forty billion years, it has hardly lost any significant amount of heat.

So it's like we have a little sun almost at the center of the Earth.

So it's like we have a little sun almost at the center of the Earth.

So we call that kind of the heat beneath our feet.

So we call that kind of the heat beneath our feet.

What that means is that as you dig deeper, it gets horder. How hard it gets depends on where you make the hole, but generally speaking, near the surface, digging a hole gets harder about fifteen degrees celsius for each kilometer you go down. So at the Cola super borehole in Russia, the deepest humans I've ever dug, they reach temperatures of one hundred and eighty degrees celsius or around three hundred and fifty six fahrenheit, which is around the temperature you would say you're oven two to cook roast beef. Now, those are the two main reasons digging hole is hard. There are other reasons too, like pressure.

What that means is that as you dig deeper, it gets horder. How hard it gets depends on where you make the hole, but generally speaking, near the surface, digging a hole gets harder about fifteen degrees celsius for each kilometer you go down. So at the Cola super borehole in Russia, the deepest humans I've ever dug, they reach temperatures of one hundred and eighty degrees celsius or around three hundred and fifty six fahrenheit, which is around the temperature you would say you're oven two to cook roast beef. Now, those are the two main reasons digging hole is hard. There are other reasons too, like pressure.

We need to deal with not only hort temperatures but also high pressures. So not only does the temperature get higher, the pressure gets higher as well.

We need to deal with not only hort temperatures but also high pressures. So not only does the temperature get higher, the pressure gets higher as well.

So whatever you put down there basically gets squished. Yeah.

So whatever you put down there basically gets squished. Yeah.

As you get deeper and deeper and the temperatures get higher, and the pressures get higher, and the rocks get harder.

As you get deeper and deeper and the temperatures get higher, and the pressures get higher, and the rocks get harder.

Waight the rocks get harder.

Waight the rocks get harder.

Yeah, because of again that weight of the overlying informations. The rocks start to consolidate, and then they also start to change under the influence of pressure and temperature.

Yeah, because of again that weight of the overlying informations. The rocks start to consolidate, and then they also start to change under the influence of pressure and temperature.

Oh, they get more dense.

Oh, they get more dense.

Yeah, really hard stuff to drill.

Yeah, really hard stuff to drill.

Also, when you're drilling under the ground, you're kind of drilling blind. Example, you might accidentally hit some lava.

Also, when you're drilling under the ground, you're kind of drilling blind. Example, you might accidentally hit some lava.

That's generally not good, but it has happened. In Iceland, they drilled a well called the ice Iceland Deep Drilling Project at a price called Kravla. They actually drilled into an active volcano, So they actually drilled into a.

That's generally not good, but it has happened. In Iceland, they drilled a well called the ice Iceland Deep Drilling Project at a price called Kravla. They actually drilled into an active volcano, So they actually drilled into a.

Magma chamber on purpose or by accident.

Magma chamber on purpose or by accident.

By accident, so they encountered a nine hundred degrees centigrade temperatures well over two thousand degrees fahrenheit. There's a ridiculous amount of temperature that we saw there. Now, luckily the chamber was not pressurized and low and behold, they were able to temporarily keep that hole and actually briefly turn it into a geothermal well which was producing kind of thirty five megawatts of power. Wow, and you can run a small city of that, right, It's pretty amazing.

By accident, so they encountered a nine hundred degrees centigrade temperatures well over two thousand degrees fahrenheit. There's a ridiculous amount of temperature that we saw there. Now, luckily the chamber was not pressurized and low and behold, they were able to temporarily keep that hole and actually briefly turn it into a geothermal well which was producing kind of thirty five megawatts of power. Wow, and you can run a small city of that, right, It's pretty amazing.

And then, of course what makes digging a really deep hole heart is that you have to dig through solid rock. So when we come back, we'll talk to a different professional hole digger about the different technologies we use to dig through rock. They involve diamonds, lasers, and microwaves. Stay with us, you're listening to sign stuff. Hey, welcome back. Okay, we talked about why drilling a deep hole is hard, and in the next section we're going to talk about whether it's possible to dig a hole to the center of the Earth. But first I was curious to learn how exactly you dig a hole that deep, what's the technology you use? And let me just preview this by saying, there are going to be lasers involved, big lasers to guide us through this. I talked to another person whose job it is to dig deep holes.

And then, of course what makes digging a really deep hole heart is that you have to dig through solid rock. So when we come back, we'll talk to a different professional hole digger about the different technologies we use to dig through rock. They involve diamonds, lasers, and microwaves. Stay with us, you're listening to sign stuff. Hey, welcome back. Okay, we talked about why drilling a deep hole is hard, and in the next section we're going to talk about whether it's possible to dig a hole to the center of the Earth. But first I was curious to learn how exactly you dig a hole that deep, what's the technology you use? And let me just preview this by saying, there are going to be lasers involved, big lasers to guide us through this. I talked to another person whose job it is to dig deep holes.

So my name is Roman Short. I'm associate professor here at Texas A and M University. I work a lot in drilling, drilling automation optimization for subservice energy.

So my name is Roman Short. I'm associate professor here at Texas A and M University. I work a lot in drilling, drilling automation optimization for subservice energy.

Well, thanks for joining us, doctor sh So how do you drill a hole in the ground through rock.

Well, thanks for joining us, doctor sh So how do you drill a hole in the ground through rock.

The way that you typically do it? You need a really big drill, A drilling rig comes on site and same thing like that drill bit that you're using in your wall. Just imagine a really long drill bit. Tap top start rotating it, the bottom rotates eventually, and then you lower down until you hit the ground and then the bit is a failing rock.

The way that you typically do it? You need a really big drill, A drilling rig comes on site and same thing like that drill bit that you're using in your wall. Just imagine a really long drill bit. Tap top start rotating it, the bottom rotates eventually, and then you lower down until you hit the ground and then the bit is a failing rock.

Yeah, it's literally just the drill, but imagine one that's nine to ten inches wide and that sits at the end of a ten kilometer long steel rod. Now I have a drill at home, and when I drill, the bits that get cut spiral up the drill and usually fall to the ground. But in a ten kilometer deep hole, what happens to all the stuff you drill out? Here's what doctor Shore said.

Yeah, it's literally just the drill, but imagine one that's nine to ten inches wide and that sits at the end of a ten kilometer long steel rod. Now I have a drill at home, and when I drill, the bits that get cut spiral up the drill and usually fall to the ground. But in a ten kilometer deep hole, what happens to all the stuff you drill out? Here's what doctor Shore said.

That's another use for that drilling fluid. So that water you pump it down the drill pipe comes out the drill bit, and it captures all those pieces of rock and then moves them back up to the surface. So you're helping clean this well bore using this fluid. I'll also provide you stability for that whole. So it's like kind of cool how that drilling mud use does build things at once.

That's another use for that drilling fluid. So that water you pump it down the drill pipe comes out the drill bit, and it captures all those pieces of rock and then moves them back up to the surface. So you're helping clean this well bore using this fluid. I'll also provide you stability for that whole. So it's like kind of cool how that drilling mud use does build things at once.

Okay, I know that's the second time we mentioned this drilling fluid, but trust me, it's going to be important later. Now, is it a drill bit like the drill I have at home, like the spiral metal thing, or it's similar.

Okay, I know that's the second time we mentioned this drilling fluid, but trust me, it's going to be important later. Now, is it a drill bit like the drill I have at home, like the spiral metal thing, or it's similar.

So rock is a little bit harder than the dry wall or the word that you typically drill through. So a lot of these rodary drill bits now use that technology called polycrystaline diamond. So there's these little tiny diamond cutters that are embedded into this bigger spiral. Effectively, you can think of your spiral drill bit. Just think of that, but much larger, and you have little tiny diamond cutters along the edges of each of those teeth, so they act like teeth as they're rotating.

So rock is a little bit harder than the dry wall or the word that you typically drill through. So a lot of these rodary drill bits now use that technology called polycrystaline diamond. So there's these little tiny diamond cutters that are embedded into this bigger spiral. Effectively, you can think of your spiral drill bit. Just think of that, but much larger, and you have little tiny diamond cutters along the edges of each of those teeth, so they act like teeth as they're rotating.

Yes, that's right. To dig to rock, you use diamonds.

Yes, that's right. To dig to rock, you use diamonds.

Yeah, so it's an artificial diamond. You put that under ground and that can drill for hundreds to thousands of feet, sometimes even miles.

Yeah, so it's an artificial diamond. You put that under ground and that can drill for hundreds to thousands of feet, sometimes even miles.

Yeah, diamonds are pretty cool. But contrary to what they say or not forever, the problem with the drill, doctor Shore says is that they wear out, even the ones with diamonds, and replacing something at the bottom of a ten kilometer hole is not easy. So scientists of engineers have been coming up with new technologies to dig or blast their way through rock. And you said there's other technologies like using lasers. Yep, you describe some of those exactly.

Yeah, diamonds are pretty cool. But contrary to what they say or not forever, the problem with the drill, doctor Shore says is that they wear out, even the ones with diamonds, and replacing something at the bottom of a ten kilometer hole is not easy. So scientists of engineers have been coming up with new technologies to dig or blast their way through rock. And you said there's other technologies like using lasers. Yep, you describe some of those exactly.

So what I've been talking about so far is called rotary drilling. Other technologies that people have been looking at is can you use that's say, a microwave to literally firmly degrade the rock and melt it, burn it out of the way.

So what I've been talking about so far is called rotary drilling. Other technologies that people have been looking at is can you use that's say, a microwave to literally firmly degrade the rock and melt it, burn it out of the way.

Wait, just shoot, just shoot the rock with Yeah.

Wait, just shoot, just shoot the rock with Yeah.

Just with the microwave being you're just like not quite star star trek Pew pew. But it's the same journal. Yes, like you just imagine this energy being forced pointed at this rock.

Just with the microwave being you're just like not quite star star trek Pew pew. But it's the same journal. Yes, like you just imagine this energy being forced pointed at this rock.

What that works? Like if I shoot a microwave at a rock, it'll actually disintegrate eventually.

What that works? Like if I shoot a microwave at a rock, it'll actually disintegrate eventually.

Yes, it takes a lot of energy, but it does. It turns into vapor. So it just turns into a gas and then you can if you just circulate air just comes out as as a gasified.

Yes, it takes a lot of energy, but it does. It turns into vapor. So it just turns into a gas and then you can if you just circulate air just comes out as as a gasified.

Rock vaporized rock. Whoa, Because the microwaves are hitting the rock and that's basically blowing off the rock atoms from the surface.

Rock vaporized rock. Whoa, Because the microwaves are hitting the rock and that's basically blowing off the rock atoms from the surface.

So the atoms themselves stay constant. I think it's breaking a lot of the molecular bonds and also some of the weaker bonds that are between let's say a different molecules different grains.

So the atoms themselves stay constant. I think it's breaking a lot of the molecular bonds and also some of the weaker bonds that are between let's say a different molecules different grains.

So one technology they're exploring is to zap the rock with a microwave, just like the one you use at home to reheat your food, well not quite like the one in your kitchen.

So one technology they're exploring is to zap the rock with a microwave, just like the one you use at home to reheat your food, well not quite like the one in your kitchen.

So but the problem with this is how do you generate microwaves that are high enough energy close enough to that rock surface. So, like your microwave at home is a kilowat and that's what you use to heat your food. In order to melt rock, you need a thousand times more power, give or take like a million what, yeah, exactly, so a million wats. There are people trying to figure out ways to take out washing machine and make it really skiy. So you just stack it up so it all fits in. It could work. We'll see what they come up with over the next time.

So but the problem with this is how do you generate microwaves that are high enough energy close enough to that rock surface. So, like your microwave at home is a kilowat and that's what you use to heat your food. In order to melt rock, you need a thousand times more power, give or take like a million what, yeah, exactly, so a million wats. There are people trying to figure out ways to take out washing machine and make it really skiy. So you just stack it up so it all fits in. It could work. We'll see what they come up with over the next time.

And you said lasers or is that the same technology?

And you said lasers or is that the same technology?

Oh, lasers are another thing that people are thinking about. This is now on the visible light spectrum. Now that laser hits the rock, same thing, burning it melts it.

Oh, lasers are another thing that people are thinking about. This is now on the visible light spectrum. Now that laser hits the rock, same thing, burning it melts it.

That's right. Forget drills. There's a way to shoot your way to the center of the Earth. And for anyone having flashbacks to the depth Star laser in the movie Star Wars, don't worry. These are not that big, just enough to cut a small hole ten kilometers into the ground. Now, are lasers and microwaves better than drills? I asked doctor sure this question, and these methods laser, MicroID that's going to be more efficient or better than a drill.

That's right. Forget drills. There's a way to shoot your way to the center of the Earth. And for anyone having flashbacks to the depth Star laser in the movie Star Wars, don't worry. These are not that big, just enough to cut a small hole ten kilometers into the ground. Now, are lasers and microwaves better than drills? I asked doctor sure this question, and these methods laser, MicroID that's going to be more efficient or better than a drill.

So it may be faster because your typical rotary drill bits if you're looking at easy to drill rock, So just a nice easy sandstone, you can drill at hundreds of feet per hour, So if you want to drill a mile, it'll take maybe a day if you're drilling it harder rock. So I just say you're drilling into granite or quartz sites, that rock is a lot harder. It's the same type of rock that use for your countertop. So now if you have a rock like this, erotary drill bit could only go at tens of feet per hour, so that same mile might take a week or maybe I'd say even a month. Sometimes with laser and microwave, it doesn't care what the rock is. It just sees matter, so it's able to go through any hardness of material use it just by blasting it with energy. You just maybe crank up the energy intensity a little bit too, because if you have more material there.

So it may be faster because your typical rotary drill bits if you're looking at easy to drill rock, So just a nice easy sandstone, you can drill at hundreds of feet per hour, So if you want to drill a mile, it'll take maybe a day if you're drilling it harder rock. So I just say you're drilling into granite or quartz sites, that rock is a lot harder. It's the same type of rock that use for your countertop. So now if you have a rock like this, erotary drill bit could only go at tens of feet per hour, so that same mile might take a week or maybe I'd say even a month. Sometimes with laser and microwave, it doesn't care what the rock is. It just sees matter, so it's able to go through any hardness of material use it just by blasting it with energy. You just maybe crank up the energy intensity a little bit too, because if you have more material there.

Whoah, well, when they build it, they should definitely build in some sound effects like pew pew pew.

Whoah, well, when they build it, they should definitely build in some sound effects like pew pew pew.

Great exactly that or maybe well, I don't know. The usually the depth star sud might be a little.

Great exactly that or maybe well, I don't know. The usually the depth star sud might be a little.

Bit okay, So to recap, the deepest holes in the world have all been dug with drills that make holes about nine inches wide, which is about the diameter of a soccer ball at the end of a ten kilometer or more steel tube or rod, and you typically fill that tube with something drilling engineers called mud, which is basically water with things like clay or other ceramics added to make it heavier to keep the hole from collapsing. Now, the question is how deep can you make that hole? Can you make it to the center of the earth. When we come back, we're going to answer that question. So stay with us. You're listening to sign stuff. Welcome back. Okay, we're now going to get to the question of whether it's possible to dig to the center of the earth. We talked about why it's hard to dig really deep holes and the technologies humans used to dig them. Now the question is what's the deepest hole we could make. I asked this question to both of our experts, and they disagree. They each gave a different answer. Here's what doctor van Ord said. Can you take us on a journey. So let's say I start digging from the surface. What am I going to be seeing?

Bit okay, So to recap, the deepest holes in the world have all been dug with drills that make holes about nine inches wide, which is about the diameter of a soccer ball at the end of a ten kilometer or more steel tube or rod, and you typically fill that tube with something drilling engineers called mud, which is basically water with things like clay or other ceramics added to make it heavier to keep the hole from collapsing. Now, the question is how deep can you make that hole? Can you make it to the center of the earth. When we come back, we're going to answer that question. So stay with us. You're listening to sign stuff. Welcome back. Okay, we're now going to get to the question of whether it's possible to dig to the center of the earth. We talked about why it's hard to dig really deep holes and the technologies humans used to dig them. Now the question is what's the deepest hole we could make. I asked this question to both of our experts, and they disagree. They each gave a different answer. Here's what doctor van Ord said. Can you take us on a journey. So let's say I start digging from the surface. What am I going to be seeing?

Okay, so the outer part of the earth, which is what we call the crust, is relatively thin zero to seventy zero to one hundred kilometers deep. But remember that the deepest we've ever drilled, which is cola super deep hole in Russia, only went about thirteen kilometers deep. So you're still only a small ways into the crust. If the rest of the crust is one hundred kilometers.

Okay, so the outer part of the earth, which is what we call the crust, is relatively thin zero to seventy zero to one hundred kilometers deep. But remember that the deepest we've ever drilled, which is cola super deep hole in Russia, only went about thirteen kilometers deep. So you're still only a small ways into the crust. If the rest of the crust is one hundred kilometers.

Right, what is the crust made out of?

Right, what is the crust made out of?

Crust is made out of aluminum and manganese silicates, so that's sandstone and limestone, and then deeper down when you get the basement rock kind of granite and buzzle, and then when you go through the crust you go to the mantle.

Crust is made out of aluminum and manganese silicates, so that's sandstone and limestone, and then deeper down when you get the basement rock kind of granite and buzzle, and then when you go through the crust you go to the mantle.

All right, here, it's fourteen A side note, I think most people know that the inside of the Earth is made up of layers, but maybe not a lot of people know why it layers. Remember I said earlier that after the Earth formed, it was just a big ball of lava. Well, when it was in that fluid state, all the things in it started to settle. The heaviest elements sank to the bottom. In this case, it was mostly iron. Then the heavier rocks hung around the middle and the lighter rocks floated to the top. I usually describe it as a boba drink, or like making sangria, where the boba or the fruit sink to the bottom, the ice floats to the top, and most of the liquid hangs out in the middle. That's why the earth is made up of layers, but in this case there's circular layers because the earth is round. Okay, back to the conversation.

All right, here, it's fourteen A side note, I think most people know that the inside of the Earth is made up of layers, but maybe not a lot of people know why it layers. Remember I said earlier that after the Earth formed, it was just a big ball of lava. Well, when it was in that fluid state, all the things in it started to settle. The heaviest elements sank to the bottom. In this case, it was mostly iron. Then the heavier rocks hung around the middle and the lighter rocks floated to the top. I usually describe it as a boba drink, or like making sangria, where the boba or the fruit sink to the bottom, the ice floats to the top, and most of the liquid hangs out in the middle. That's why the earth is made up of layers, but in this case there's circular layers because the earth is round. Okay, back to the conversation.

And then below the crust is the mantle. The mantle is about three thousand kilometers.

And then below the crust is the mantle. The mantle is about three thousand kilometers.

So the mantle is also rock, but it's still pretty hard and hot.

So the mantle is also rock, but it's still pretty hard and hot.

Yeah, and the temperatures start to become higher and higher, right, it becomes thousands of the grease centigrade and fahrenheit as we go towards the core of the earth.

Yeah, and the temperatures start to become higher and higher, right, it becomes thousands of the grease centigrade and fahrenheit as we go towards the core of the earth.

So after the crust is a mantle. This is kind of the meat of the earth, if Earth was like a fruit. The mantle is about two thousand, eight hundred kilometers thick, and it's also solid rock, but because of the temperature and pressure, the rock actually flows. The rocks inside the mantle are constantly moving. They heat up when they get close to the center of the earth, which makes them expand, and so they float up to the crust. Then they cool down and sink again. It's kind of what happens in a lava lamp or a pot of boiling water where you see the water churning up and down. And it's that constant movement that pushes the crust around, moving all the continents over millions of years. And as sucufan Ort said, the mantle gets pretty hot pretty fast. At about five hundred kilometers down, the temperature is almost two thousand degrees celsius. And at the bottom of the mantle, or almost three thousand kilometers deep, the temperature is thirty five hundred degrees celsius. That's where you get to the Earth's core.

So after the crust is a mantle. This is kind of the meat of the earth, if Earth was like a fruit. The mantle is about two thousand, eight hundred kilometers thick, and it's also solid rock, but because of the temperature and pressure, the rock actually flows. The rocks inside the mantle are constantly moving. They heat up when they get close to the center of the earth, which makes them expand, and so they float up to the crust. Then they cool down and sink again. It's kind of what happens in a lava lamp or a pot of boiling water where you see the water churning up and down. And it's that constant movement that pushes the crust around, moving all the continents over millions of years. And as sucufan Ort said, the mantle gets pretty hot pretty fast. At about five hundred kilometers down, the temperature is almost two thousand degrees celsius. And at the bottom of the mantle, or almost three thousand kilometers deep, the temperature is thirty five hundred degrees celsius. That's where you get to the Earth's core.

The outer core is liquid iron and nickel, and then the core itself. The scientists are still investigating that. They think it's either solid or it's plasma behaving as a solid. That is kind of six thousand calvins. So you wouldn't be able to drill a borehole through that. In fact, if you get to the outer core, right, it's just a liquid of iron. Any steel tools that you would use would melt going through there.

The outer core is liquid iron and nickel, and then the core itself. The scientists are still investigating that. They think it's either solid or it's plasma behaving as a solid. That is kind of six thousand calvins. So you wouldn't be able to drill a borehole through that. In fact, if you get to the outer core, right, it's just a liquid of iron. Any steel tools that you would use would melt going through there.

Basically, Yeah, if you took a bunch of iron and melted it and then you try to dig through a pool of liquid iron.

Basically, Yeah, if you took a bunch of iron and melted it and then you try to dig through a pool of liquid iron.

Yeah, I don't think you can stabilize a borehole at all.

Yeah, I don't think you can stabilize a borehole at all.

Well, you know, I've heard that at the center of the Earth there are dinosaurs in kin Kong.

Well, you know, I've heard that at the center of the Earth there are dinosaurs in kin Kong.

Creatures not from scientists.

Creatures not from scientists.

So the outer part of Earth's core is a layer of molten iron that's about five thousand degrees celsius. And then when you get to the bottom or to the center of the Earth, it's a solid ball of iron six thousand degrees celsius. Doctor event Or doesn't think we could ever even get there. Well, let's maybe put on our imagination hads or creative hats, and let's say that if for some reason we needed to dig to the center of the earth, what would be required? How would you do it? And I gave you a trillion dollars? Now it wouldn't be enough, all right, ten trillion dollars. Now there's no money enough right now because the technology doesn't exist to do it. What would be the things that fail?

So the outer part of Earth's core is a layer of molten iron that's about five thousand degrees celsius. And then when you get to the bottom or to the center of the Earth, it's a solid ball of iron six thousand degrees celsius. Doctor event Or doesn't think we could ever even get there. Well, let's maybe put on our imagination hads or creative hats, and let's say that if for some reason we needed to dig to the center of the earth, what would be required? How would you do it? And I gave you a trillion dollars? Now it wouldn't be enough, all right, ten trillion dollars. Now there's no money enough right now because the technology doesn't exist to do it. What would be the things that fail?

Well, right now, we require kind of boattholes, right that we need to stabilize on our way down. And you just run out of the ability to do that as you get deeper and deeper. As I said, you need to come up with some kind of death Star weapon, right, some kind of high powered laser where you could just blash your way through the core of the Earth. But if you do that, I think you'll blow up the Earth in the process as well as the death Star is meant to do.

Well, right now, we require kind of boattholes, right that we need to stabilize on our way down. And you just run out of the ability to do that as you get deeper and deeper. As I said, you need to come up with some kind of death Star weapon, right, some kind of high powered laser where you could just blash your way through the core of the Earth. But if you do that, I think you'll blow up the Earth in the process as well as the death Star is meant to do.

What's the problem? The rockets too hard or too hot both.

What's the problem? The rockets too hard or too hot both.

We have to go through a lot of hard rock initially that is a very very high temperature.

We have to go through a lot of hard rock initially that is a very very high temperature.

What if I somehow, I mean I gave you a lot of money and some we figure out how to make things at a diamond, which is the hardest thing we know about. Right, What if I made a borehole pipe that was made out of diamonds and SOMEO Now all my tools and cables were made out of diamonds.

What if I somehow, I mean I gave you a lot of money and some we figure out how to make things at a diamond, which is the hardest thing we know about. Right, What if I made a borehole pipe that was made out of diamonds and SOMEO Now all my tools and cables were made out of diamonds.

No, it's a diamond, diamonds decomposed I think at around twelve hundred degrees cent grade. I might be wrong there, but you can actually burn up a diamond. So the diamonds would eventually fail as well. What and you end up with just a bunch of CO two. It just would revert back to carbon and then you just burn the carbon.

No, it's a diamond, diamonds decomposed I think at around twelve hundred degrees cent grade. I might be wrong there, but you can actually burn up a diamond. So the diamonds would eventually fail as well. What and you end up with just a bunch of CO two. It just would revert back to carbon and then you just burn the carbon.

Okay, I checked this, and it's true. Diamonds in the presence of air or oxygen burn into CO two at around nine hundred degrees celsius, which would only get you down to about fifty kilometers or zero point four percent of the way to the center of the Earth. In other words, when you get down to about fifty kilometers now into the earth, your diamond tools would spontaneously burst into flames. And even if you stucked all the oxygen out, your diamond tools would melt at around fifteen hundred kilometers or about a quarter of the way down to the center of the earth. Wait, even if I build everything out of diamonds, at some point, it would just evaporate. Yeah, so we wouldn't get very far even into the mantle.

Okay, I checked this, and it's true. Diamonds in the presence of air or oxygen burn into CO two at around nine hundred degrees celsius, which would only get you down to about fifty kilometers or zero point four percent of the way to the center of the Earth. In other words, when you get down to about fifty kilometers now into the earth, your diamond tools would spontaneously burst into flames. And even if you stucked all the oxygen out, your diamond tools would melt at around fifteen hundred kilometers or about a quarter of the way down to the center of the earth. Wait, even if I build everything out of diamonds, at some point, it would just evaporate. Yeah, so we wouldn't get very far even into the mantle.

No, I personally think it'll be a very long time before we can get out of the crust and into the mantle.

No, I personally think it'll be a very long time before we can get out of the crust and into the mantle.

All right, So our dream of going to the center of the Earth just went up and smoke right along with our cool diamond drills, or did they. I decided to ask doctor Share the same question, and he came up with a possible way we might be able to get down to the Earth's core. And the answer is to use the liquid that you fill your hole with, the one keeping the hole from collapsing as a coolant. This is what they do. When you're drilling and you hit a pocket of lava or magma.

All right, So our dream of going to the center of the Earth just went up and smoke right along with our cool diamond drills, or did they. I decided to ask doctor Share the same question, and he came up with a possible way we might be able to get down to the Earth's core. And the answer is to use the liquid that you fill your hole with, the one keeping the hole from collapsing as a coolant. This is what they do. When you're drilling and you hit a pocket of lava or magma.

The cool thing is that drill bit can drill into that magma. The reason why is the water so that fluid that you're using is cooling the rock. So that layer of magma now it sees that fluid first and it solidifies. In Hawaii and in Iceland, they have drilled through magma dikes. Sometimes it's been on purpose, sometimes it's been not and they were able to drill through it. It cools off because the water is absorbed all that heat. So you have this little tiny layer now around your hole that's solid rock and then it's magma.

The cool thing is that drill bit can drill into that magma. The reason why is the water so that fluid that you're using is cooling the rock. So that layer of magma now it sees that fluid first and it solidifies. In Hawaii and in Iceland, they have drilled through magma dikes. Sometimes it's been on purpose, sometimes it's been not and they were able to drill through it. It cools off because the water is absorbed all that heat. So you have this little tiny layer now around your hole that's solid rock and then it's magma.

And it doesn't remelt.

And it doesn't remelt.

As long as you're flowing the water. So as long as you're still pumping and pumping cool fluid, now it stays water.

As long as you're flowing the water. So as long as you're still pumping and pumping cool fluid, now it stays water.

To you're building a tunnel through lava.

To you're building a tunnel through lava.

H as long as you continue flowing fluid and cooling, that whole stays stable.

H as long as you continue flowing fluid and cooling, that whole stays stable.

Right.

Right.

But now you can keep going even deeper than that. It's imagine we keep cool they canna say we're using liquid nitrogen or something. We can now technically keep making this whole.

But now you can keep going even deeper than that. It's imagine we keep cool they canna say we're using liquid nitrogen or something. We can now technically keep making this whole.

This is the mantle, right, Yes, for an hour, and they're layer beneath the crust, and.

This is the mantle, right, Yes, for an hour, and they're layer beneath the crust, and.

The temperatures are going to be increasing through thousands of degrees fahrenheit.

The temperatures are going to be increasing through thousands of degrees fahrenheit.

Now is that survivable? Because now you're talking about thousands of degrees and you know the surfaces of the sun is six thousand degrees fahrenheit. Is your drill bit still intact?

Now is that survivable? Because now you're talking about thousands of degrees and you know the surfaces of the sun is six thousand degrees fahrenheit. Is your drill bit still intact?

The drill bit itself would have melted hours ago. Part of the reason why we're still able to keep drilling is because we have this cool layer of rock that's solidified around us. So if we somehow found a way to continue pumping some form of cool fluid, maybe liquid nitrogen, Maybe we find a fluid where it reacts and it absorbs heat, so you can pump down let's say two materials. They combine and become extremely cold. So as long as the rock is solid, the bit will be fine because the bit melts right about the same temperature as the rock.

The drill bit itself would have melted hours ago. Part of the reason why we're still able to keep drilling is because we have this cool layer of rock that's solidified around us. So if we somehow found a way to continue pumping some form of cool fluid, maybe liquid nitrogen, Maybe we find a fluid where it reacts and it absorbs heat, so you can pump down let's say two materials. They combine and become extremely cold. So as long as the rock is solid, the bit will be fine because the bit melts right about the same temperature as the rock.

Right, So if we can keep our drill cool, maybe using some kind of system, you could technically keep digging. Now, this is an extremely difficult problem, but maybe technically possible. We're kind of using our imagination here, but that would get us to the core.

Right, So if we can keep our drill cool, maybe using some kind of system, you could technically keep digging. Now, this is an extremely difficult problem, but maybe technically possible. We're kind of using our imagination here, but that would get us to the core.

Eventually, after about two thousand miles, you've now hit the outer core. The outer core now is still liquid, it is now extremely hot, so four thousand and five thousand degrees fahrenheit. And then at the very center, now you have a solid inner core. That solid inner core is not mostly metal, and it's spinning, and it's spinning at a different speed than the surface of the Earth. So the reason why we as a planet have a magnetic field is the center of the Earth is spinning. The outside of the Earth is stationary, so it's a big dynamo. So that is what is generating this magnetic field that protects the planet from all this solar radiation.

Eventually, after about two thousand miles, you've now hit the outer core. The outer core now is still liquid, it is now extremely hot, so four thousand and five thousand degrees fahrenheit. And then at the very center, now you have a solid inner core. That solid inner core is not mostly metal, and it's spinning, and it's spinning at a different speed than the surface of the Earth. So the reason why we as a planet have a magnetic field is the center of the Earth is spinning. The outside of the Earth is stationary, so it's a big dynamo. So that is what is generating this magnetic field that protects the planet from all this solar radiation.

It's a spinning magnet in the center of the Earth exactly.

It's a spinning magnet in the center of the Earth exactly.

Which is why Mars does not have a magnetic field anymore, is because their core became solid and it stopped rotating at some point several billion years ago.

Which is why Mars does not have a magnetic field anymore, is because their core became solid and it stopped rotating at some point several billion years ago.

Whoa, but wait, but trying to dig through molten metal iron.

Whoa, but wait, but trying to dig through molten metal iron.

That's going to become even harder and again it's moving, which is the bigger problem. So we have this hole that's cooled around us. We're still somehow cooling it. I don't know how. And we've now hit this moving metal ball. Where we touch it, it's going to move away. And now if we start making a hole, it's going to start dragging our hole with it because it's moving in relation to us. So how would we continue drilling at that point? I don't know.

That's going to become even harder and again it's moving, which is the bigger problem. So we have this hole that's cooled around us. We're still somehow cooling it. I don't know how. And we've now hit this moving metal ball. Where we touch it, it's going to move away. And now if we start making a hole, it's going to start dragging our hole with it because it's moving in relation to us. So how would we continue drilling at that point? I don't know.

Well what I have an idea? What if we drill from the north pole?

Well what I have an idea? What if we drill from the north pole?

That could actually work. But if you find the pole of that inner core, then yes, that would work.

That could actually work. But if you find the pole of that inner core, then yes, that would work.

Oh, you'd have to hit it just right in the spin axis in the inner.

Oh, you'd have to hit it just right in the spin axis in the inner.

Core exactly, so it has a rock tube transition to a metal tube. Now you're in solid metal, but around you the core is thousands of degrees fahrenheit. So you now need to have enough cooling that the inside of your hole is one hundred degrees or couple hudgrees fahit. So you may have to get creative and call NASA because NASA has some really cool insulators.

Core exactly, so it has a rock tube transition to a metal tube. Now you're in solid metal, but around you the core is thousands of degrees fahrenheit. So you now need to have enough cooling that the inside of your hole is one hundred degrees or couple hudgrees fahit. So you may have to get creative and call NASA because NASA has some really cool insulators.

Yeah, hold on, let me call NASA right now. Actually we do have it all night phone.

Yeah, hold on, let me call NASA right now. Actually we do have it all night phone.

Okay.

Okay.

So to recap, if you drill down from the north or south poles, and if you can figure out a way to super cool your whole as you dig down through six thousand degrees celsius molten and solid iron, you could technically drill down to the center of the Earth. I feel like maybe we delved a little bit into science fiction, a little bit or a lot of just a little bit, But in your opinion, it's possible as long as we have the right engineering.

So to recap, if you drill down from the north or south poles, and if you can figure out a way to super cool your whole as you dig down through six thousand degrees celsius molten and solid iron, you could technically drill down to the center of the Earth. I feel like maybe we delved a little bit into science fiction, a little bit or a lot of just a little bit, But in your opinion, it's possible as long as we have the right engineering.

If we need to and we put our brains to it, we probably could come up with aspects of a solution that could work. Will we be able to cool against six thousand degrees fahrenheit two thousand miles into the Earth's core? Probably not, but should we find a way so. For the geothermal industry today, what they're trying to do is they're trying to find a way to drill down to rock that is six hundred degrees fahrenheit.

If we need to and we put our brains to it, we probably could come up with aspects of a solution that could work. Will we be able to cool against six thousand degrees fahrenheit two thousand miles into the Earth's core? Probably not, but should we find a way so. For the geothermal industry today, what they're trying to do is they're trying to find a way to drill down to rock that is six hundred degrees fahrenheit.

Okay, this brings us to one of the main reasons why you would want to dig a deep hole in the first place, geothermal energy, that is, using the energy of the Earth as energy instead of oil or carbon. Because this energy is free and it's clean, and you don't have to go down that deep to get it. Scientists think if we can get technology towards easy to drill down to about twelve kilometers, which is about the deepest we've ever dug. Then you could have geothermal wells everywhere. Here's how doctor Shore describes it.

Okay, this brings us to one of the main reasons why you would want to dig a deep hole in the first place, geothermal energy, that is, using the energy of the Earth as energy instead of oil or carbon. Because this energy is free and it's clean, and you don't have to go down that deep to get it. Scientists think if we can get technology towards easy to drill down to about twelve kilometers, which is about the deepest we've ever dug. Then you could have geothermal wells everywhere. Here's how doctor Shore describes it.

I think someone's done the calculations, and there's enough heat energy in the Earth in order to provide enough energy for humanity for a hundred million years. So there is a huge amount, but it's not unlimited. So it's now, how do you sustainably pull out heat and make sure you're not changing the geology significantly from that heat being removed. I see, So there has to be a little bit of thought put into it. But one hundred million of years worth of energy sounds pretty good.

I think someone's done the calculations, and there's enough heat energy in the Earth in order to provide enough energy for humanity for a hundred million years. So there is a huge amount, but it's not unlimited. So it's now, how do you sustainably pull out heat and make sure you're not changing the geology significantly from that heat being removed. I see, So there has to be a little bit of thought put into it. But one hundred million of years worth of energy sounds pretty good.

And that sounds good to me too. So when you hear politicians say drill, baby, drill, just make sure they mean for geothermal energy. All right, I think we answered today's question. What happens if you dig a hole to the center of the earth. It might be possible to do it, but you might not need to might not be that deep. A solution to all of our problems could be right beneath our feet. That is the whole truth. Thanks for joining us. See you next time you've been listening to science stuff. The production of iHeartRadio written and produced by me or Hey Chham, edited by Rose Seguda, executive producer Jerry Rowland, and audio engineer and mixer Ksey Pegram. And you can follow me on social media. Just search for PhD Comics and the name of your favorite platform. Be sure to subscribe to sign stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, and please tell your friends We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode.

And that sounds good to me too. So when you hear politicians say drill, baby, drill, just make sure they mean for geothermal energy. All right, I think we answered today's question. What happens if you dig a hole to the center of the earth. It might be possible to do it, but you might not need to might not be that deep. A solution to all of our problems could be right beneath our feet. That is the whole truth. Thanks for joining us. See you next time you've been listening to science stuff. The production of iHeartRadio written and produced by me or Hey Chham, edited by Rose Seguda, executive producer Jerry Rowland, and audio engineer and mixer Ksey Pegram. And you can follow me on social media. Just search for PhD Comics and the name of your favorite platform. Be sure to subscribe to sign stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, and please tell your friends We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode.