Hidden clues show Mercury shrank more than previously thought — Live Feedhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/hidden-clues-show-mercury-shrank-more-than-previously-thoughtContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. Mercury contracted 40% more than visible surface scars indicatehttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/hidden-clues-show-mercury-shrank-more-than-previously-thoughthttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/hidden-clues-show-mercury-shrank-more-than-previously-thought#u67528Mon, 14 Sep 2026 05:35:39 +0000Mercury shrank more than scientists previously expected as its interior cooled over billions of years. New analysis of masked tectonic structures suggests the planet contracted 40% more than the visible ridges and cliffs on its surface originally indicated. This process caused the rocky exterior to crumple, similar to the skin of a drying fruit, creating the steep cliffs and ridges that define the planet's current topography. Researchers are now investigating if the planet is even smaller than these updated estimates suggest.Why it mattersThe size of a planet is tied to the thermal state