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Technology

Target tipped for PS5 restock next week — what you need to know

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It’s been more than two weeks since the last Target PS5 restock, but the wait for the next one may soon be over, according to a reliable source. 

YouTuber and full-time stock tracker Jake Randall is tipping Target for a PS5 restock that is expected to be held at some point this coming week. If the retailer does drop fresh stock, it’s almost guaranteed to happen on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. ET. Target has been restocking during this early morning window for over a year at this point. 

If you’re still on the hunt for a PS5, then Target is definitely the retailer to keep an eye on right now. Randall has extremely reliable sources at Target, and has correctly called multiple restocks ahead of time in the past. While nothing is officially confirmed yet, all signs point to a PS5 restock at Target very soon. 

Target PS5 restock (check stock)

There had been some hope that Target would hold a PS5 restock today (Friday, March 25), but that window has closed.  Randall suggests that this coming week is more likely as some locations are still expecting to receive another shipment of consoles at the start of the week.

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The best thing about a Target restock is that the retailer never sells the PS5 in bundles — so you’ll be able to score a coveted console at its standard retail price of $499. Plus, Target is one of the few major retailers that hasn’t gated restocks behind a premium membership. Also, Target PS5 orders must be collected in store, which means you can pick up your console the same day you order it. 

While we wait to see whether this Target drop materializes, make sure to bookmark our PS5 restock hub. This comprehensive guide is updated daily with the latest restock information as we get it. It won’t guarantee you a PS5, but it can certainly make the task of securing Sony’s in-demand gaming console a little easier. 

How to buy a PS5 at Target

First, ensure you have an account set up with your payment and address details stored. This is a vital step if you want to secure a PS5 during a restock. Getting stock in your basket is only half the battle; you don’t want the console to sell out while you’re entering your details. Make sure it’s all pre-saved so you can check out in seconds. 

Target is known for releasing stock in waves, typically going first with the PS5 standard edition and then following it up with a restock of the PS5 Digital edition. So even if you get on the site and the PS5 is already sold out, it’s worth sparing the extra time to see if you can catch a second wave. 

Randall also suggests using alternative payment methods such as PayPal, Apple Pay or RedCard if possible. The advantage with these is that they use a separate payment portal which bypasses Target’s own servers that have in the past collapsed under the strain of thousands of people all trying to secure that coveted order confirmation email. 

Target also has an app that can be used to try and secure a PS5. A good trick is to try to check out during a restock on both a desktop and a mobile device. It’s recommended that if you manage to add the PS5 to your cart on one, you switch over to the other to complete checkout. So long as you’re logged in it’ll keep track of the contents of your cart.

Finally, at checkout, you can edit your location to select a store that has PS5 in stock if your local branch is sold out. Occasionally, doing this might stop you from progressing further through the checkout process, but if you encounter this issue just clear your browser cookies and give it a second try. 

PS5 restock tracker — stores to check



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Technology

GameStop tipped for PS5 restock this week — date, time and everything we know

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GameStop will reportedly be holding its next PS5 restock this week. It’s been well over a month since the gaming retailer last took fresh orders of the in-demand next-gen console, but that looks set to change. The retailer will have online stock on Tuesday, March 8 and an in-store restock on Friday, March 11 (both restocks are for members only). 

News of this restock comes from Matt Swider of The Shortcut. Matt is one of the most trusted stock trackers in the game, with notoriously strong sources across major retailers. Multiple GameStop sources have confirmed to him that an in-store drop is just days away. 

As is now standard with GameStop restocks, the retailer will only offer the console in a prebuilt bundle and you’ll need to be a PowerUp Reward Pro member in order to secure one. Swider has also provided information on what will be included in the package this time, and it’s good and bad news. 

Friday’s bundle will reportedly cost $797 and includes a PS5 Disc console, Gran Turismo 7 (25th Anniversary Edition), Horizon Forbidden West (Limited Edition), PowerA PS5 DualSense Charging Station, PS4 HyperX Cloud Headset and a $50 PlayStation Network gift card. 

(Image credit: The Shortcut)

We have pretty mixed feelings about this bundle. For starters, at almost $800 it’s a little more expensive than previous GameStop bundles which were generally closer to $700. We also don’t love that it includes a third-party controller charging dock instead of the official Sony one, plus the supplied headset is technically a PS4 accessory that is compatible with the PS5.

On the other hand, the package does at least include two new PS5 exclusive games. Although, including the more expensive special edition of each game is a little sly. At least GameStop always charges the combined retail price of the items within its bundles, so you won’t be getting price gouged.

We don’t currently know which locations will be participating in this restock, but we’re hoping that GameStop provides that information very soon. That said, you should expect a smaller restock than normal at most stores. 

Swider has received intel that suggest the retailer is switching up the way it handles stock distribution. GameStop is apparently no longer allocating big quantities of stock to a handful of flagship locations, but is instead spreading its PS5 stock more evenly across its many stores. This means that the majority of GameStop locations will have between four and eight bundles for sale, which will surely be snapped up quickly.  

This in-store restock will start from each individual store opening time (which could be as early as 8 a.m. local time) — but expect eager shoppers to start queuing before then. You’ll want to load up on coffee and head out early if you don’t want to be left empty-handed. 

While some previous GameStop in-store restocks have been open to everyone, this latest restock event will be held exclusively for PowerUp Reward Pro members. Make sure to get signed up now ahead of time. If you’re not a Pro member, you will likely be denied the opportunity to purchase a console during the restock. 

If you’d rather purchase your console online or don’t want to stretch your budget to cover a pricey GameStop bundle, be sure to check our PS5 restock hub for the latest updates. We can’t guarantee you a machine, but it’ll help make the job of tracking down a next-gen console much easier. 

PS5 restock tracker — stores to check



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Technology

iPhone 14 display upgrade tipped — just not the one we want

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We had been hoping the iPhone 14 would come with a 120Hz display, upgrading from the 60Hz of its predecessor and getting a screen on par with the iPhone 13 Pro, but that’s not been looking likely according to recent rumors. But a half-way house upgrade could still be on the cards. 

That’s because leaker Shadow_leak claims that the standard iPhone 14 and the rumored new iPhone 14 Max could potentially offer a new 90Hz refresh rate display.

Now that 120Hz displays are easily achievable, 90Hz screens are less common than they used to be, although the Google Pixel 6 is a prominent phone that does use one. However, since Apple needs to differentiate its 120Hz Pro models from its basic models, 90Hz would be a smart compromise given that 60Hz displays are quickly becoming obsolete.

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The bad news is that, if this rumor is true, it won’t be enough to beat Samsung’s newly released Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus, in terms of screen tech at least. These sell for roughly the same price as an iPhone, but offer full-fat 120Hz refresh rates.

The second rumor comes from Korean outlet The Elec, which reports that BOE, one of the companies that make iPhone displays, can’t keep up with demand due to the continuing global chip shortage. However, hidden away in that report is a reference to BOE continuing to provide LTPS OLED displays for the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 later in 2022.

The LTPS part is what we’re focusing on here. LTPS is one of two common types of OLED display, the other being LTPO. LTPO panels can offer higher refresh rates compared to LTPS ones, but where they really shine is in making those refresh rates adaptable.

Outputting a display at 120Hz all the time will quickly drain the battery on a phone, so an adaptive refresh rate drops that frequency down when it isn’t needed — when you’re looking at a static object or a photo, for example. LTPO displays can do this job better than LTPS, dropping to as low as 1Hz. In contrast, the best minimum refresh rate you’ll find for an adaptive LTPS display is around 48Hz, as seen on the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus.

If it’s true, as The Elec says, that Apple isn’t changing the display tech for the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 13, that could be interpreted as a sign that a 90Hz iPhone display may not come with the same adaptability as its 120Hz siblings. It could even mean it won’t be upgrading the refresh rate at all. In fact, Shadow_leaks himself does suggest the non-Pro iPhones may still only have 60Hz refresh rates, or possibly that the iPhone 14 will only offer 60Hz and 90Hz pre-sets, depending on how you read the tweets.

However, while that may be the case for the base iPhone 14, we’re also supposed to be getting a new 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max this year, filling the spot that used to be taken by the iPhone 13 mini. It’s possible that Apple would offer a higher or more adaptable refresh rate on that phone, as a bonus for going Max — though it’s equally likely that it would make it match the standard Phone 14.

In short, there remain several questions around the possible display tech in the iPhone 14 range, at least where it concerns the base models. 

What we do know about the rumored new phones is that they won’t be with us any time soon; they’ll likely arrive in September or October this year. But though they might be a ways off, these display details are hardly the first we’ve heard about the new devices. For instance, other rumors have tipped Apple to drop the Face ID notch to finally replace it with a punch-hole in the display and teased a possible 48MP main camera for the Pro models.



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Technology

Amazon just tipped for first PS5 restock of 2022 this week — here’s what we know

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Amazon has yet to hold a PS5 restock in 2022, but that could change in the coming days. 

While there has been no official word from the online retailer confirming an imminent PS5 restock, various sources are suggesting Amazon could take fresh orders of the in-demand next-gen console at some point this week. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Amazon over the next few days, so check back for updates. 

Amazon PS5 restock (check stock)

Reliable stock tracking account @PS5StockUpdates has claimed that this Amazon drop will be the “main event” of the week. This could indicate there will be significant stock available during this restock. This would make sense as historically Amazon has held larger but less frequent drops compared to other retailers.

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We don’t currently have any reports on the exact date and time of this restock. This is frustrating but not wholly unexpected. Amazon doesn’t generally follow a predictable restock pattern and seems to drop next-gen console stock at random. This makes pinning down the window of a potential Amazon PS5 restock very tricky. 

In mid-2021, Amazon began holding restocks that required a Prime membership to access. Select restocks being held exclusively for Prime members is a trend we expect Amazon to continue in 2022, so it may be worth getting signed up below to ensure you have access to the next Amazon PS5 restock.

As we wait for more information on this Amazon drop, make sure to bookmark our PS5 restock hub. This guide contains all the buying information you need and is regularly updated with the latest restock information, updates, and speculation so you never miss a drop. We can’t guarantee it’ll get you a PS5 but it’ll certainly tip the odds in your favor.

How to get early access to Amazon PS5 restock

Getting early access to Amazon PS5 restocks is pretty simple: sign up for Amazon Prime. For $12.99 a month ($119 annually) you’ll get a range of benefits including free shipping and access to the Prime Video streaming service not to mention the all-important priority access to the next PS5 restock. You can sign up below, and there’s even a 30-day free trial of the service available so it won’t cost you anything.  

How to buy a PS5 at Amazon 

(Image credit: Amazon)

There isn’t a guaranteed formula for success when it comes to securing a PS5 during an Amazon restock, but there are a few things you can do to tip the odds in your favor. 

Firstly, make sure you have an Amazon account set up ahead of time with your address information and payment details pre-saved. Getting stock in your basket is only half the battle, once you’ve managed that it’s a race to complete check out. If you’re stuck entering your card number and zip code, odds are the console will sell out while you’re typing away. 

There is a slightly odd Amazon trick that has been proven to make checking out with a PS5 easier. By placing the console in your wish list ahead of time when it is restocked you can add to your cart from there. This allows you to bypass the listing page, which practically always crashes due to overwhelming traffic. 

Using this trick you can typically get stock in your basket the minute the restock is live, and that gives you a pretty sizeable advantage over the people who are stuck trying to refresh the actual PS5 listing page in hopes of getting it to work. 

Just make sure you have the PS5 in your wish list ahead of time, as you can still add it even when the console is sold out. Do this well before the restock happens in order to make use of this trick. Trying to add the console to your wish list during a stock drop will usually lead to the website spinning out an error message. 

We tested this method ourselves during an Xbox Series X restock and can confirm that it does in fact work. We managed to get the Series X in our basket four times, whereas we couldn’t get the console in our basket once through the listing page as it kept crashing. 

Also, make sure to keep our guide on PS5 restock bookmarked, as we’ll update it with any additional information on the latest Amazon PS5 restock the minute we get it.

PS5 restock tracker — stores to check



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Technology

Pixel Notepad tipped to be a good deal cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 3

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It was reported not too long ago that Google’s first foldable phone, which will seemingly be known as the Pixel Notepad, would be cheaper than Samsung’s latest bendable handset, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, and now, a concrete price tag has emerged. 
9to5Google has learned from two sources that Google is considering a price of around $1,400 for the first foldable Pixel. That would make it $400 cheaper than the Fold 3 which goes for $1,799.99. While that may sound great at first glance, keep in mind that foldable phones require complicated parts that are usually costlier. That explains why the first crop of foldable phones released by Samsung and Huawei back in 2019 was in the neighborhood of $2,000.
Samsung has presumably managed to bring the price down because of something called economies of scale whereby costs of production go down as production volume increases. So, it’s a little hard to understand how Google is targeting a price of $1,400 for the Pixel Notepad, but then again this is not beyond the realms of possibility, considering Oppo’s first foldable phone, the Find N, costs the equivalent of $1,200.
Speaking of which, the Pixel Notepad is expected to have a square aspect ratio like the Oppo Find N instead of the taller aspect ratio of the Fold 3, which could make writing on the cover screen feel more convenient. 

Pixel Notepad may arrive later this year

The Notepad will allegedly have the in-house Tensor chip under the hood, the same processor that powers the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The device is unlikely to get the flagship range’s 50MP rear camera though, and will instead go for Pixel 5’s 12.2-megapixel IMX363 sensor, which will be accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide camera. The phone is also expected to have two 8MP front cameras, one for the main screen and one for the cover display.

The aforementioned 50MP sensor is physically larger than the sensors Google is expected to use for the Notepad, and would have increased the thickness of the device. Besides, even Samsung’s best foldable phones don’t exactly have stellar camera setups, so these specs are unlikely to be deal-breakers for most prospective buyers.
It was previously reported that the Pixel Notepad would initially only be available in the US and today’s report says that the device will be released internationally by the end of 2022. While that doesn’t tell us anything about the US launch, if were to speculate, we’d assume a Q3 unveiling. Before that, we are likely to see the Pixel 6a, which a recent leak says will be revealed in May.

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Technology

Pixel Notepad tipped to be a good deal cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 3

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It was reported not too long ago that Google’s first foldable phone, which will seemingly be known as the Pixel Notepad, would be cheaper than Samsung’s latest bendable handset, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, and now, a concrete price tag has emerged. 
9to5Google has learned from two sources that Google is considering a price of around $1,400 for the first foldable Pixel. That would make it $400 cheaper than the Fold 3 which goes for $1,799.99. While that may sound great at first glance, keep in mind that foldable phones require complicated parts that are usually costlier. That explains why the first crop of foldable phones released by Samsung and Huawei back in 2019 was in the neighborhood of $2,000.
Samsung has presumably managed to bring the price down because of something called economies of scale whereby costs of production go down as production volume increases. So, it’s a little hard to understand how Google is targeting a price of $1,400 for the Pixel Notepad, but then again this is not beyond the realms of possibility, considering Oppo’s first foldable phone, the Find N, costs the equivalent of $1,200.
Speaking of which, the Pixel Notepad is expected to have a square aspect ratio like the Oppo Find N instead of the taller aspect ratio of the Fold 3, which could make writing on the cover screen feel more convenient. 

Pixel Notepad may arrive later this year

The Notepad will allegedly have the in-house Tensor chip under the hood, the same processor that powers the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The device is unlikely to get the flagship range’s 50MP rear camera though, and will instead go for Pixel 5’s 12.2-megapixel IMX363 sensor, which will be accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide camera. The phone is also expected to have two 8MP front cameras, one for the main screen and one for the cover display.

The aforementioned 50MP sensor is physically larger than the sensors Google is expected to use for the Notepad, and would have increased the thickness of the device. Besides, even Samsung’s best foldable phones don’t exactly have stellar camera setups, so these specs are unlikely to be deal-breakers for most prospective buyers.
It was previously reported that the Pixel Notepad would initially only be available in the US and today’s report says that the device will be released internationally by the end of 2022. While that doesn’t tell us anything about the US launch, if were to speculate, we’d assume a Q3 unveiling. Before that, we are likely to see the Pixel 6a, which a recent leak says will be revealed in May.

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Technology

GameStop in-store PS5 restock tipped for this week — date and how to get your console

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If you’re hoping to score a PS5 restock to kick off the new year, you might be in luck. GameStop is reportedly preparing to hold an in-store PS5 restock this week. This would be the retailer’s first drop of the PS5 console in 2022. 

News of this potential restock comes from @PS5restocks_etc on Twitter. The account isn’t the biggest restock tracker out there but has a solid track record when it comes to reliability. The account is currently tipping GameStop for an in-store PS5 restock at select locations on Friday, January 14. 

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Jake Randall, a YouTuber and stock tracker, has also claimed a GameStop in-store PS5 restock will be taking place on Friday (January 14) adding more fuel to the fire. Plus, well-known restock tracker Matt Swider has also hinted that a GameStop PS5 restock could be on its way soon. Whether he’s talking about the same drop is currently unknown. Remember, it’s still worth taking these tip-offs with a grain of salt. Until official word comes from GameStop nothing is confirmed.  

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If an in-store GameStop PS5 restock does happen this week, it’ll likely start from each individual store opening time (which could be as early as 8 a.m. local time) — but expect eager shoppers to start queuing for the console much earlier than this. 

As is now the standard with GameStop PS5 restocks, the console will almost certainly only be available in pre-built bundles. These packages will likely contain PS5 games, extra controllers, digital credit, and a GameStop gift card. GameStop always charges the combined retail price of the items within its bundles, so you won’t be getting price gouged at least. 

Previous GameStop in-store restocks haven’t required customers to be a PowerUp Reward Pro member. However, some previous in-store PS5 restocks have been exclusively for customers with a Pro membership. It might be worth getting signed up now just in case. 

While we wait to see if this rumored in-store GameStop PS5 restock actually happens, be sure to check our PS5 restock hub for the latest updates. We can’t guarantee you a machine, but it’ll help make the job of tracking down a next-gen console a little bit more manageable.

PS5 restock tracker — stores to check



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Technology

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra S Pen tipped to get a major upgrade

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It doesn’t look as though the Samsung Galaxy S22 rumors and leaks are going to be slowing down between now and the expected February launch, and the latest tidbit to reach us concerns the Ultra model and the S Pen stylus that’s coming with it.

According to XEETECHCARE on YouTube (via XDA Developers), the input delay on the pen is going to come in at 2.8 milliseconds – not bad at all when you consider the figure for the previous version of the accessory was 9 milliseconds.

That improvement of more than two-thirds in responsiveness should make for a more fluid and natural experience for S Pen users, and could be another reason to pick up the Galaxy S22 Ultra over the other models that are coming in the range.

The S Pen is mightier

The S Pen with 9 ms latency was the model that accompanied the Galaxy Note 20, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. A slightly different stylus is available with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but there’s no official information about its input delay, and that’s also true for the more expensive S Pen Pro.

There have been previous rumblings about improvements coming to the S Pen in 2022, including some tweaks and optimizations on the software side, but once again it would seem that you’re going to need a separate case to carry the S Pen with your phone.

The same YouTube source also reiterated some of the other rumors we’ve heard so far about the high-end S22 model for this year, including the 108MP main sensor that’s expected to be fitted in the rear camera – and it is apparently going to be the first camera in a Samsung phone to support 12-bit HDR for even more colors.

Analysis: leaving the Note behind

The news that Samsung is rumored to be improving the S Pen that will accompany the S22 Ultra is another sign that the company is leaving the revered old Note series behind this year – we didn’t get a Galaxy Note 21 last year and it looks unlikely that we’ll get a Galaxy Note 22 during the course of the next 12 months.

The good news is that other Samsung phones are filling the gap. As well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is also expected to arrive with S Pen support later in the year, although the different types of screens on foldable phones might mean that an alternative stylus is needed again.

Samsung itself has made it clear that S Pen support is going to come to more of its devices in the future – although it’s disappointing that no other phone has yet offered an integrated S Pen dock like the Note had. That’s something that we hope changes.

By all accounts the Galaxy S22 Ultra is going to be a Note replacement, and may even get a name change to reflect this evolution. The design is said to be significantly different to the S22 and the S22 Plus, and the cameras are apparently more advanced too. All should be revealed at the official unveiling sometime next month.

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Technology

Samsung Galaxy S22 prices just tipped for all three models — and it’s bad news

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The Galaxy S22 is coming, and now there’s a new leak with alleged pricing for all three models. While the regular Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus (or See Pro) are tipped to see a modest increase, the Galaxy S22 Ultra could see a $100 bump.

Granted, the tipster TheGalox_ says that the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra might come with 256GB of base storage, making their price increases more understandable. But in a world where the iPhone 13 and Pixel 6 offer compelling experiences for great prices, it makes you question what Samsung could be thinking if these rumors prove true. 

The Galaxy S22 will reportedly increase to an $849 starting price, the Galaxy S22 Plus to $1,049 and the Galaxy S22 Ultra to $1,299. Seeing the Ultra climb to the same price that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra launched at isn’t all that surprising given the rumors about that phone.

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So a $50-$100 hike across the board is sure to not please customers who choose to buy the phones outright. We thought that the Galaxy S21 series had a much fairer price, certainly better than the Galaxy S20 series in 2020. But with the chip shortage causing problems everywhere, manufacturing smartphones is probably more expensive now than ever. 

Of all three Galaxy S22 models, the Ultra sounds the most interesting so far. A recent leak showed the most Note-like Galaxy S phone ever, including a spot for an S Pen. Samsung is allegedly planning to shrink all three phones, too — S22 to 6.1 inches from 6.2, S22 Plus to 6.5 inches from 6.7, and the S22 Ultra to 6.8 down from 6.9.

All three phones are expected to sport the new Snapdragon 898 system-on-chip in most markets, with some getting the Exynos 2200 (which is the more interesting of the two based on what we know thanks to its AMD-powered GPU). We think the cameras will see modest upgrades, with a 50MP main sensor on the S22/S22 Plus and 108MP on the Ultra with new detail mode.

Rumors point to a February announcement and release for the Galaxy S22 family with Samsung reportedly using the January timeframe to launch the Galaxy S21 FE.



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Science

Earth tipped on its side (and back again) in ‘cosmic yo-yo’ 84 million years ago

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A new study has confirmed a longstanding theory that the Earth’s crust was tilted on its side around 84 million years ago. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Earth has not always been upright. Turns out, the planet’s crust tipped on its side and back again around 84 million years ago, in a phenomenon that researchers have dubbed a “cosmic yo-yo.” 

The actual name for the tipping is true polar wander (TPW), which occurs when the outer layers of a planet or moon move around its core, tilting the crust relative to the object’s axis. Some researchers had previously predicted that TPW occurred on Earth late in the Cretaceous period, between 145 million and 66 million years ago, but that was hotly debated, according to a statement by the researchers.

However, the new study strongly suggests TPW did occur on Earth. Researchers mapped the ancient movement of Earth’s crust by looking at magnetic-field data trapped inside ancient fossilized bacteria. They found that the planet tilted 12 degrees relative to its axis around 84 million years ago, before fully returning to its original position over the next 5 million years. 

Related: 10 out-of-this-world images of Earth taken by Landsat satellites

“This observation represents the most recent large-scale TPW documented and challenges the notion that the [Earth’s] spin axis has been largely stable over the past 100 million years,” the researchers wrote in their paper, published online June 15 in the journal Nature Communications. 

Cosmic yo-yo 

Earth is made out of four main layers: the solid inner core, the liquid outer core, the mantle and the crust. During TPW, the entire planet would appear turned over on its side, but in reality only the outermost layers have moved. 

“Imagine looking at Earth from space, TPW would look like the Earth tipping on its side,” co-author Joe Kirschvink, a geobiologist at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan and a professor at the California Institute of Technology, said in the statement. “What’s actually happening is that the whole rocky shell of the planet [the mantle and crust] is rotating around the liquid outer core.”

During TPW the Earth’s crust rotates around the outer core, but the planet’s axis and magnetic field remains the same.  (Image credit: Victor C. Tsai/Wikimedia Commons)

Individual pieces of Earth’s outermost layers are constantly moving and changing as tectonic plates collide together and subduct underneath one another; but during TPW, the outer layers move together as a single unit.

As a result, the tilt in Earth’s crust would not have resulted in any major tectonic activity or drastic changes to major ecosystems. Instead, it would have been a gradual process that would not have impacted the dinosaurs and other living things walking around on the surface.

Earth’s electromagnetic field would have been static during the TPW because it is created by the liquid inner core, which would have stayed in place. So rather than the magnetic poles moving, it is the geographic poles that start to wander. 

Fossilized magnets 

To test if Earth did undergo TPW during the Cretaceous, the researchers turned to magnetic minerals within limestone deposits in Italy. 

“These Italian sedimentary rocks turn out to be special and very reliable because the magnetic minerals are actually fossils of bacteria that formed chains of the mineral magnetite,” co-author Sarah Slotznick, a geobiologist at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, said in the statement. 

The limestone deposits in Italy which contain the fossilized magnetite (left) and the drill holes leftover from where researchers extracted some of their samples (right). (Image credit: Ross Mitchell/Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Magnetite is a highly magnetic form of iron-oxide. Some types of bacteria can create chains of tiny magnetite crystals, which naturally orient with Earth’s magnetic field at the time of their creation. When these particular bacteria died and were fossilized during the period of TPW, these magnetite chains got locked in place. 

Because Earth’s crust moved during TPW, and not its magnetic field, these magnetic fossils (which remained in surface layers of the planet) revealed how much the crust moved relative to Earth’s magnetic field over time. The team found that Earth’s crust moved a total of almost 25 degrees over a period of 5 million years.

The researchers believe that their findings now settle the question of whether Earth had a TPW during the Cretaceous. 

“It is so refreshing to see this study with its abundant and beautiful paleomagnetic data,” Richard Gordon, a geophysicist at Rice University in Houston who was not involved in the study, said in the statement.

Originally published on Live Science.

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