Scientific method
Measurement of antineutrinos emitted by radioactive decay inside the Earth. Because geoneutrinos pass through the planet almost unaffected, they carry information about deep radiogenic heat production that no other method can reach.
2 of 2 claims on this page cite at least one registered source. Counts describe how each statement is known, not how likely it is to be true.
Each claim states how it is known and cites its evidence.
Neutrinos from the decay of potassium-40 lie below the detection limits of the KamLAND and Borexino experiments, so the potassium contribution to Earth’s heat had to be supplied from other knowledge rather than measured.
Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source
Evidence: Nature Geoscience 2011 Peer-reviewed
Geoneutrinos are electrically neutral particles emitted during radioactive decay that pass through the Earth virtually unaffected, so their flux at the surface can be used to estimate radiogenic decay in the interior.
Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source
Evidence: Nature Geoscience 2011 Peer-reviewed
Record last updated 2026-09-06. Corrections follow the published corrections policy; superseded claims are retained, never silently edited.