Author name: Jennifer M. Jackson

Heat is a fundamental driver of planetary evolution, shaping its interior, surface, and atmosphere. On Earth, the flow of heat powers dynamic systems that are essential to life. Thermochemical variations across the core–mantle boundary play an important role in regulating heat flow, which influences the dynamics of both the mantle and the core, including generation of the geodynamo. In this article, we focus on thermal transport and melting, including highlights of new technological developments in laboratory optics and synchrotron facilities. Here, we offer a perspective that highlights the spatial and temporal characteristics of these processes, where new developments expand our understanding of Earth’s thermochemical evolution, and hold promise for applications to other planetary bodies.