Summary:
- This article discusses a new study that provides insights into the formation of Mercury's iron-rich core.
- Researchers suggest that Mercury's core formed after an ancient "hit-and-run" collision with a protoplanet, which stripped away much of the planet's original rocky mantle.
- The findings help explain the unusual composition of Mercury, which has an unusually large and dense core compared to its small size, and provide clues about the early history and evolution of the inner solar system.