Mercury is shrinking!
Not until long ago, it was believed that Earth was the only tectonically active planet in the Solar System. Additionally, the planet is releasing heat when the plates under the crust move, causing shrinking and deformations on the surfaces of the planet.
But in 2016, after the MESSENGER spacecraft sent back data after orbiting Mercury, we’ve found out that we’re not actually the only tectonically active planet. Mercury is shrinking as well!
According to Space.com, the data “revealed cliff-like landforms known as fault scarps. Because the fault scarps are relatively small, scientists are sure that they weren’t created that long ago and that the planet is still contracting 4.5 billion years after the solar system was formed.”
