The Earth's Core is as Hot as the Sun's Surface

This may be hard to believe but it is true.  This fact is helped because the surface of the sun is surprisingly cool.  Weirdly enough both the Earth's core and sun's surface are about 6,000 degrees Kelvin -- but the sun's atmosphere (also called the corona) is 1 to 2 million degrees Kelvin!

A new study in Science suggests that the temperature of our planet's core is much, much hotter than previously thought -- 6,000 degrees Kelvin, compared with earlier estimations that were closer to 5,000 degrees Kelvin. This temperature, blazing hot to a degree beyond comprehension, is the same as that of the surface of the sun. Yes, you read that right: the core of our temperate little atmospherically-protected home is as hot as *a star*.

Scientists in France were able to come to their remarkable conclusion in an experimental setting, using X-rays diffraction to watch how iron crystals held under unbelievable pressure form and melt.

Read more here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/04/the-earths-core-is-as-hot-as-the-surface-of-the-sun/275346/