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A curiosity of the planet is its magnetic field, which is about 1% that of Earth's. Scientists were perplexed to discover its existence, speculating that planet's outer core consisted of liquid iron. However, because it is relatively small and hot, such an outer core would long ago have expired. That Mercury is so intensely cratered would also suggest that Mercury should long ago have given up its magnetic field because of its extreme apparent age.  

A curiosity of the planet is its magnetic field, which is about 1% that of Earth's. Scientists were perplexed to discover its existence, speculating that planet's outer core consisted of liquid iron. However, because it is relatively small and hot, such an outer core would long ago have expired. That Mercury is so intensely cratered would also suggest that Mercury should long ago have given up its magnetic field because of its extreme apparent age.  

Thus, according to current scientific understandings, the existence of Mercury's magnetic field presents a serious theoretical problem for [[uniformitarian]] models of the creation of the Solar System.<ref name=Psarris>See, for example, Psarris, Spike, ''Our Solar System: Evidence for Design'', Seattle Creation Conference, 2006.</ref>

Thus, according to current scientific understandings, the existence of Mercury's magnetic field presents a serious theoretical problem for [[uniformitarian]] models of the creation of the Solar System.<ref name=Psarris>Psarris, Spike, ''Our Solar System: Evidence for Design'', Seattle Creation Conference, 2006.</ref><ref>Franco, Lucia M. "[http://astro.uchicago.edu/home/web/lucia/a100/lectures/mercury.html  Lecture 10.1: Mercury]." ''Astronomy 100 at Indiana University Northwest'', [[Indiana University]], 1996. Accessed April 17, 2008.</ref>

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