The rough, impact-debris-covered surface of Mercury has hidden the true rate at which Mercury has been shrinking, which scientists previously underestimated by 30%
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Little Mercury may be shrinking faster than scientists expected
Headline from WHEC Rochester ·
Is tiny Mercury shrinking even faster than expected?
Headline from MyStateline ·
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Mercury is Shrinking, But Faster Than Previously Thought
Headline from Universe Today ·
Newest
Mercury is shrinking with age — faster than thought
Mercury's surface is riddled with wrinkles, evidence of a once-larger planet that has shrunk over time. A new study finds that Mercury may have contracted 10% to 30% more than previously thought—a loss of nearly 12 miles (19 kilometers) of total diameter since the planet formed—due to debris from im…
New research indicates Mercury has contracted 10% to 30% more than previously thought, shrinking about 12 miles (roughly 19 kilometers) in diameter since its formation, with surface debris from ancient impacts obscuring the planet’s shrinkage signs.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected, the cosmos' version of a grape shriveling into a raisin under the sun.
Mercury is, by far, the smallest planet in our solar system — about 1/29th the width of Jupiter and just one-third the width of Earth. One day, it might be even smaller.
A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected, the cosmos’ version of a grape shriveling into a raisin under the sun.
Mercury is, by far, the smallest planet in our solar system — about 1/29th the width of Jupiter and just one-third the width of Earth. One day, it might be even smaller.
A new study shows Mercury is shrinking more than scientists first thought. They say the planet might have already shrunk up to 30% more than expected. The post Mercury is shrinking up to 30% more than expected first appeared on EarthSky .
The rough, impact-debris-covered surface of Mercury has hidden the true rate at which Mercury has been shrinking, which scientists previously underestimated by 30%
Nature, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02898-3 Impacts by space objects have obscured some of the evidence of the planet’s contraction over the past 4.5 billion years.
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Mercury is Shrinking, But Faster Than Previously Thought | Since Then
