Category: Environment

The University of Auckland shared a rare video of an octopus riding atop a mako shark, showcasing an unusual interaction between the two marine species off the coast of New Zealand.

In a remarkable display of marine life, scientists from the University of Auckland recently captured video footage of an octopus riding on the back of a mako shark. This unusual sighting occurred off the coast of New Zealand and has since garnered attention for its rarity and intrigue.

The encounter, which took place in December 2023, features a Maori octopus perched on the head of a mako shark, known for being the fastest shark species, capable of swimming at speeds up to 46 mph. According to the university, this incident was one of the most peculiar observations their marine scientists had ever encountered. The researchers noted that octopuses typically inhabit the seabed, while short-fin mako sharks prefer shallower waters.

During their research in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island, the scientists were investigating shark feeding frenzies when they spotted a mako shark with a distinctive orange patch on its head. To document the encounter, they deployed a drone and submerged a GoPro camera into the water, leading to the unforgettable moment of the octopus clinging to the shark’s head with its tentacles.

Professor Rochelle Constantine, a marine scientist at the University of Auckland, described the scene as “mysterious” and noted that the researchers could only observe the interaction for about ten minutes before moving on. This left them uncertain about the fate of the “sharktopus” after their observation. Constantine speculated that the octopus may have experienced quite a thrill, given that the mako shark can reach speeds of up to 30 mph.

Initially, Constantine was unsure of what she was witnessing. “At first, I was like, ‘Is it a buoy?’” she recounted in an interview with The New York Times. “Is it entangled in fishing gear or had a big bite?” However, upon closer inspection, she realized the octopus was comfortably situated on the shark’s head.

She remarked on the calmness of the scene, noting that both the shark and the octopus appeared unbothered by the unusual interaction. “The shark seemed quite happy, and the octopus seemed quite happy. It was a very calm scene,” she said.

This extraordinary sighting not only highlights the fascinating behaviors of marine life but also underscores the importance of ongoing research in understanding these complex ecosystems. The collaboration between technology and marine biology continues to unveil the mysteries of the ocean, providing insights into the interactions between different species.

As researchers continue to explore the waters around New Zealand, they remain hopeful for more unique encounters that can shed light on the behaviors and relationships of marine creatures. The “sharktopus” sighting serves as a reminder of the wonders that lie beneath the surface and the need for conservation efforts to protect these incredible species.

According to Source Name, this sighting has sparked interest in further studies regarding the interactions between various marine species and their habitats.

Source: Original article

A well-preserved baby mammoth, nicknamed “Yana,” dating back over 130,000 years, was recently dissected by scientists in Russia, revealing fascinating insights into Ice Age life.

A female baby mammoth, affectionately named “Yana,” was the focus of a recent dissection conducted by Russian scientists at North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk. This significant event took place on March 27 and was captured in a series of striking photographs.

The mammoth, believed to have lived more than 130,000 years ago, was discovered preserved in permafrost in the Yakutia region of Russia. She was unearthed last year, providing a rare glimpse into the life of these ancient creatures.

Images from the necropsy depict a team of scientists gathered around the 397-pound mammoth, which bears a striking resemblance to a modern baby elephant. The creature’s mouth was open, and her trunk was curled as the scientists began their examination.

Initially, researchers estimated that Yana lived approximately 50,000 years ago. However, further analysis of the permafrost layer where she was found led to a revised dating of over 130,000 years.

Maxim Cherpasov, head of the Lazarev Mammoth Museum Laboratory, shared insights about Yana’s life and death. He noted that the mammoth was just over a year old at the time of her demise. Unfortunately, her remains had already been partially consumed by predators when she was discovered.

“As a rule, the part that thaws out first, especially the trunk, is often eaten by modern predators or birds,” Cherpasov explained. “Here, for example, even though the forelimbs have already been eaten, the head is remarkably well-preserved.”

The dissection of Yana is particularly notable, as the discovery of a well-preserved mammoth is exceedingly rare. While other mammoth remains have been found, they do not often exhibit the same level of preservation. For instance, in June 2024, a fisherman stumbled upon a mammoth bone along the banks of the Raba River in Książnice, near Gdów, Poland. Additionally, in August of the same year, a fossil collector uncovered a portion of a Columbian mammoth tusk in an embankment in Madison County, Mississippi.

The analysis of Yana’s remains is expected to provide valuable information about the life and environment of mammoths during the Ice Age, contributing to our understanding of these magnificent creatures that once roamed the Earth.

As scientists continue to study Yana, they hope to uncover more details about her life, diet, and the conditions that led to her preservation. The findings from this dissection may shed light on the broader ecological dynamics of the time and the challenges faced by these ancient animals.

Such discoveries not only enhance our knowledge of prehistoric life but also highlight the importance of preserving and studying these rare finds for future generations.

According to Reuters, the ongoing research into Yana’s remains is part of a broader effort to understand the history of mammoths and their habitats.

Source: Original article

Oceans worldwide have darkened significantly over the past two decades, raising concerns about the impact on marine life and ecosystems, according to a new study.

Oceans around the globe have experienced a notable darkening over the last two decades, prompting serious concerns from researchers regarding the health of marine ecosystems. A study led by Professor Thomas Davies from the University of Plymouth, published in the journal Global Change Biology, highlights the alarming trend based on satellite data.

Data from NASA’s Ocean Color Web indicates that 21% of the planet’s oceans have darkened between 2003 and 2022. This change poses a significant threat to marine life, particularly those species that inhabit the photic zones of the ocean. These zones, which extend to depths of approximately 200 meters, are crucial for photobiological processes that sustain marine ecosystems.

The photic zone is vital for the health of global fish markets, as it is where light penetrates the water, allowing for the existence of various marine organisms. Many ocean inhabitants depend on both moonlight and sunlight for essential activities such as hunting, mating, and reproduction.

As the oceans darken, researchers predict that creatures reliant on light may begin to migrate closer to the surface. This shift could lead to overcrowding in these upper layers of the ocean, potentially disrupting the delicate balance of marine life.

Using satellite data and an algorithm to assess light attenuation in seawater, Davies was able to determine the depth of photic zones worldwide. The study revealed that in areas where the oceans have darkened, 9% of photic zones have become shallower by 50 meters, while 3% have decreased by 100 meters.

The reasons behind the darkening of oceans, particularly in offshore areas, remain unclear. However, the study suggests that global warming and alterations in ocean currents could be contributing factors.

Interestingly, despite the overall trend of darkening, approximately 10% of the oceans, equating to about 37 million square kilometers, have become lighter over the past two decades. Coastal regions, in particular, have seen an increase in light levels. Nevertheless, this increase does not lead to a net reduction in photic zone depth along shorelines.

Davies warns that the implications of ocean darkening could be severe, affecting marine food webs, global fisheries, and the carbon and nutrient budgets that are essential for maintaining ecological balance.

As researchers continue to study these changes, the potential consequences for marine life and ecosystems worldwide remain a pressing concern.

Source: Original article

An underwater volcano, Axial Seamount, located 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is showing signs of a potential eruption, though experts assure it poses no threat to land or seismic stability.

Scientists have indicated that the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano situated more than 4,900 feet beneath the Pacific Ocean and approximately 300 miles off the Oregon coast, may erupt later this year. This would mark the first eruption since 2015.

The volcano is formed by a geological hot spot, where molten material from the Earth’s mantle rises toward the crust. According to the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, as tectonic plates move over this stationary hot spot, it results in the formation of long chains of volcanoes over time.

Maya Tolstoy, a marine geophysicist and dean of the university’s College of the Environment, explained, “Over two-thirds of the Earth’s surface was formed by volcanic eruptions at these mid-ocean ridges. Axial Seamount is a direct result of these fundamental processes that continue to shape our planet today.”

Despite the potential for an eruption, scientists have reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm. The blog post from the University of Washington states, “Axial Seamount is much too deep and far from shore for people on land to even notice when it erupts. An eruption at Axial Seamount also has nothing to do with seismic activity on land, so Pacific Northwesterners don’t need to worry about this event triggering a major earthquake or tsunami.”

The initial indication of an impending eruption will be a noticeable increase in the frequency of earthquakes in the vicinity of the volcano. Deborah Kelley, a professor at the UW School of Oceanography and director of the Regional Cabled Array, noted, “The volcano has already surpassed the inflation we observed in 2015, but the earthquake activity is still quite low.” Currently, the region is experiencing between 200 to 300 earthquakes daily, with occasional spikes reaching around 1,000 due to tidal influences.

Kelley added, “If what we learned in 2015 is correct, I would expect to see more than 2,000 earthquakes per day for a few months before the eruption.” These quakes are indicative of magma moving closer to the surface.

William Wilcock, also a professor at the UW School of Oceanography, elaborated on the eruption process. “That period lasts about an hour, and then the magma reaches the surface,” he explained. “Lava flows spread across the caldera, and lava-filled fissures open up to the north or the south, reaching as far as 40 kilometers (about 25 miles).” He noted that while seismic activity tends to decrease rapidly in the days following an eruption, the volcanic activity itself may continue at a slower pace for about a month.

As scientists continue to monitor the Axial Seamount, they emphasize the importance of understanding these underwater geological processes and their implications for the environment.

Source: Original article

Oceans worldwide have darkened significantly over the past two decades, raising concerns about the impact on marine life and ecosystems, according to a recent study.

Oceans around the globe have become darker over the last two decades, prompting serious concerns among researchers regarding the health of marine ecosystems. A study led by Professor Thomas Davies from the University of Plymouth, published in the journal Global Change Biology, highlights the alarming trend observed in satellite data.

According to data from NASA’s Ocean Color Web, 21% of the planet’s oceans have darkened between 2003 and 2022. This darkening trend poses a significant threat to marine life, particularly in the photic zones of the ocean, where light penetration is crucial for various biological processes.

The photic zone extends to about 200 meters deep and is vital for sustaining global fish populations and nutrient cycles. It is within this zone that marine organisms depend on both sunlight and moonlight for essential activities such as hunting, mating, and reproduction.

As the oceans darken, creatures that rely on light may be forced to move closer to the surface, potentially leading to overcrowding in these critical habitats. The upper layers of the ocean are home to microscopic organisms and various types of plankton, which are foundational to the marine food web.

Using satellite data and an algorithm to measure light attenuation in seawater, Davies was able to assess the depth of photic zones worldwide. The findings revealed that in areas where the oceans have darkened, 9% of photic zones have become shallower by 50 meters, and 3% have decreased by 100 meters.

The reasons behind the darkening of oceans, particularly in offshore areas, remain unclear. However, the study suggests that global warming and changes in ocean currents may play a role in this phenomenon.

Interestingly, while the overall trend indicates a darkening of the oceans, about 10% of the ocean surface, equivalent to 37 million square kilometers, has experienced an increase in light over the past two decades. Coastal areas, in particular, have seen a rise in light levels. Nevertheless, this increase does not result in a net reduction in photic zone depth near shorelines.

Davies warns that the implications of ocean darkening could be severe, affecting marine food webs, global fisheries, and the overall carbon and nutrient budgets of the oceans. The study underscores the urgent need for further research to understand the long-term effects of these changes on marine life and ecosystems.

As scientists continue to monitor these trends, the findings serve as a critical reminder of the interconnectedness of ocean health and the broader environmental challenges facing our planet.

Source: Original article

A hidden tectonic fault in Canada’s Yukon, previously deemed inactive, may soon produce a major earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5, according to new research.

An extensive fault line known as the Tintina fault, stretching from northeastern British Columbia to central Alaska, has quietly accumulated strain over at least the last 12,000 years. Recent studies have revealed that this fault remains significantly active, challenging previous perceptions of its dormancy.

Researchers caution that predicting when the next significant earthquake will occur is impossible, but evidence suggests it is inevitable. Dr. Theron Finley, the lead author of the study published in Geophysical Research Letters, indicated to BBC Science Focus that their findings point to an active fault which continues to build up strain over time. “And so we anticipate that in the future, it will rupture again,” Finley said.

The Tintina fault is a classic example of a ‘right-lateral strike-slip fault’—a type of fault where two blocks of the Earth’s crust slide past each other horizontally. During an earthquake, if the opposite side of such a fault moves to the right, it exemplifies this right-lateral motion.

Historically, one side of the fault has shifted approximately 430 kilometers (around 270 miles), predominantly during the Eocene epoch, which occurred roughly 56 to 33.9 million years ago. During that era, it shifted at a rate of about 13 mm (0.5 inches) per year. Despite a few minor earthquakes ranging from magnitude three to four in the area, the Tintina fault was long thought dormant until recent technologies provided fresh insights.

Utilizing satellite surface models and drone-mounted Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), Finley’s team re-examined the fault, penetrating the dense forest to reveal traces of a seismically active past and what could be a similarly active future for the Yukon region.

Scattered fault scarps, which are narrow landforms formed when quakes rupture to the surface, were found across the landscape. While these scarps can extend for tens to hundreds of kilometers, they typically measure only a few meters in height and width. “In the case of the Tintina fault, the scarps appear as an interesting series of aligned mounds,” Dr. Finley noted.

Dating these features allowed researchers to discover that while the fault has experienced multiple ruptures over the past 2.6 million years, it has not produced a major earthquake in recent history, specifically the last 12,000 years. During this time, it has been accumulating strain at a pace of 0.2 to 0.8 mm (0.008 to 0.03 inches) annually.

Fortunately, the potentially affected area is sparsely populated. However, Finley warns that when the fault does eventually rupture, it could result in significant landslides, infrastructure damage, and adverse effects on nearby communities.

“I want to be clear that we don’t have a great sense of how imminent an earthquake is,” Finley emphasized. He stated that although a substantial period may have passed since the last major event, it remains unclear whether another is likely to occur imminently or far into the future.

With the fault now confirmed as active, the next research goal is to better estimate the frequency of large earthquakes at this site. While this won’t predict exact timings, it could provide a more reliable timeframe within which another large earthquake may be expected. “Earthquakes don’t necessarily occur periodically,” Finley stated, “but it would give us a better sense of how often we expect large earthquakes.” Nonetheless, any future activity on the Tintina fault is likely to result in a significant event.

Scientists have discovered a new organism off the Japanese coast that challenges traditional definitions of life, straddling the line between cellular organisms and viruses.

Ryo Harada and his team at Dalhousie University have identified an unusual organism named Sukunaarchaeum mirabile, found in DNA taken from a plankton species off the coast of Japan. This discovery is prompting scientists to reconsider what qualifies as a living organism, given that Sukunaarchaeum exhibits characteristics of both cellular life forms and viruses.

Traditionally, organisms have been defined by their ability to grow, produce energy, and reproduce independently. However, this simple definition does not accommodate viruses, which can only replicate within a host organism and remain inactive outside it. Sukunaarchaeum, while undeniably cellular, borrows several viral traits, complicating the clear-cut distinctions long relied upon in biology.

This discovery shakes up existing definitions by showing that Sukunaarchaeum, despite having the cellular components necessary for making ribosomes and messenger RNA, depends heavily on its host for nearly all other functions. Its genome is remarkably small, encapsulating only 238,000 base pairs, which is substantially smaller than the previous record holder, Nanoarchaeum equitans, which has about 490,000 base pairs.

The researchers describe Sukunaarchaeum as a “cellular entity retaining only its replicative core,” lacking almost all recognizable metabolic pathways. Its genome, characterized by elements typically found in viruses rather than in fully autonomous microbes, includes instructions only for basic replication, transcription, and translation activities.

Sukunaarchaeum resides within the domain Archaea, one of the three principal domains of life, and doesn’t belong to the virus group. Detailed phylogenetic analysis positions it on a distinct and distant branch within the Archaea domain, suggesting the possibility of a new phylum specifically for this organism.

The organism was discovered unexpectedly while sequencing DNA from the dinoflagellate Citharistes regius. Researchers identified a string of foreign DNA that bore no resemblance to any previously catalogued species. Sukunaarchaeum seems to rely heavily on its host, similar to some other plankton that depend on bacterial or algal partners for essential functions.

These findings suggest that traditional views of life as a binary concept may need revision. Some scientists argue that life should be understood as a spectrum, which Sukunaarchaeum pushes into the spotlight. The discovery brings to light the possibility that many more such lineages might exist, previously dismissed in environmental sequence data as mere contaminants or viral anomalies.

The definition of “alive” carries significant implications, influencing funding, public health, and even planetary protection measures for space exploration. If other organisms like Sukunaarchaeum are found, biosecurity measures that only target free-living microbes could overlook significant classes of symbiotic parasites.

Researchers view this organism as potentially valuable in synthetic biology, offering insights into the minimal genetic load necessary for cellular function. Harada and his team speculate that the extreme streamlining of Sukunaarchaeum’s genome could result from a host environment that provides guaranteed nutrients, making some biological pathways obsolete over time.

Some paleobiologists suggest that such extreme genome reduction might provide a glimpse into early evolutionary history, when cells likely shared genes and resources more liberally. If this is true, today’s viruses and streamlined symbionts might come from an ancient lifestyle rather than being biological outliers.

Ongoing research aims to determine whether similar organisms exist in other marine ecosystems or symbiotic relationships, possibly through re-analyzing existing metagenomic databases for overlooked sequences resembling Sukunaarchaeum. Another objective is identifying the specific host organism that supports Sukunaarchaeum’s survival, which remains undiscovered.

Researchers have uncovered the bacterial cause behind a decade-long epidemic that has decimated over 5 billion sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America.

Scientists have finally identified the cause of an epidemic that has led to the deaths of more than 5 billion sea stars off the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska over the past decade. Known as sea star wasting disease, the condition has devastated more than 20 species since 2013 and is still ongoing. The sunflower sea star has been the hardest hit, with an estimated 90% population loss during the first five years of the outbreak.

Sea stars, commonly referred to as starfish, generally have five arms, though some species may have up to 24. These marine animals display a wide array of colors, ranging from solid orange to combinations of orange, purple, brown, and green. Initially, the cause of the mass die-off was a mystery, but recent research points to bacteria as the culprit.

Marine disease ecologist Alyssa Gehman from the Hakai Institute in British Columbia, Canada, who played a role in determining the cause, described the effects of the disease as “gruesome.” Infected sea stars develop lesions, and their arms eventually detach.

A study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution has identified the bacteria Vibrio pectenicida as responsible for the disease. This finding resolves an enduring mystery concerning the severe marine ailment, according to Rebecca Vega Thurber, a marine microbiologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who was not involved in the study.

The search for the cause took over a decade, involving several missteps and complexities. For years, researchers suspected a virus might be responsible, particularly a densovirus. However, this virus was later found to be a normal component of healthy sea stars, not linked to the disease, said Melanie Prentice, a co-author of the study from the Hakai Institute.

Other research efforts failed to identify the true cause because they focused on tissue samples from dead sea stars, which lacked the coelomic fluid—an organ-surrounding bodily fluid—where the bacteria were discovered. The new study, with its detailed analysis of this fluid, was instrumental in identifying the bacteria as the cause.

Blake Ushijima, a microbiologist from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, not involved in the study, acknowledged the challenges in tracing the root cause of underwater environmental diseases. He described the research team’s approach as “really smart and significant.”

With the bacterial cause identified, scientists can now develop strategies to help sea star populations. Melanie Prentice suggested testing the health of remaining sea stars and considering options such as relocation or breeding in captivity for future reintroduction. Additionally, researchers may explore whether some populations possess natural immunity and whether treatments like probiotics could enhance immunity against the disease.

The discovery offers a renewed sense of hope for sea star conservation and a chance to mitigate the impacts of this devastating epidemic in the ocean ecosystem.

On August 2, 2027, parts of southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East will experience up to six minutes and 23 seconds of darkness during the longest solar eclipse visible from land in this century.

The total solar eclipse occurring on this date is being hailed as the “eclipse of the century,” offering a celestial event of significant duration and visibility, according to Space.com. The Moon’s passage directly in front of the Sun will cast a shadow over parts of southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, creating a unique spectacle for millions of people.

Contrary to rumors circulating on social media, this event is not scheduled for 2025. No solar eclipse, total or partial, will occur on August 2 of that year. Multiple observatories, including NASA, have debunked claims of a “six-minute global blackout” in 2025, labeling them misinformation. As Space.com emphasizes, the next occurrence of such a significant eclipse will indeed happen on August 2, 2027.

This extended eclipse duration is attributed to the Moon being at its closest point to Earth, or perigee, while the Earth will be at its farthest point from the Sun, known as aphelion. This alignment increases the apparent sizes of both celestial bodies, allowing the Moon to cover the Sun entirely for a longer time. Additionally, the path crosses the equator, where the Moon’s shadow traverses more slowly, further extending the eclipse’s duration.

The path of totality will pass over parts of eleven countries, providing complete coverage in Southern Spain (including Cádiz and Tarifa), Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and Somalia. Luxor, Egypt, will enjoy the longest period of darkness at six minutes and 23 seconds. Meanwhile, many other regions, including most of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, will witness a partial eclipse.

In India, only a partial eclipse will be visible, affecting the western and northwestern states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa. Here, the Sun will be partially obscured by 10 to 30 percent. The event will occur between 4 PM and 6 PM IST, though visibility may be limited in coastal cities like Mumbai and Goa due to sunset.

For scientific communities, the length of this solar eclipse offers a rare opportunity. The extended time in totality will allow for detailed observation of the solar corona, tracking of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, and the use of spectroscopy to study the Sun’s outer layers. Researchers will also monitor temperature shifts, magnetic fields, and atmospheric changes on Earth, aiding in the calibration of instruments for future space missions like NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter.

Safety is paramount during such events, especially in India, where looking at the Sun without proper eye protection is never safe during a partial eclipse. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recommends using ISO-certified eclipse glasses, as regular sunglasses, phone cameras, or telescopes without certified solar filters do not provide adequate protection.

During full totalities, glasses can be removed briefly when the Sun is entirely obscured but must be worn again as daylight reappears. In India, solar eclipses hold cultural significance and are intertwined with Hindu mythologies involving the shadowy planets Rahu and Ketu. Temples may close during eclipses, and people often partake in fasting or river bathing rituals. However, increasing scientific outreach has helped transform eclipses from omens to be feared into astronomical phenomena deserving of safe observation.

In essence, a solar eclipse is an astronomical anomaly, where the Moon and the Sun appear the same size from Earth due to precise cosmic geometry. People positioned in the path of totality will witness daytime darkness. For the rest of the planet, life continues, but for those in the eclipse’s path, it’s a rare opportunity to experience one of nature’s profound spectacles.

In the arid and unforgiving deserts of East Africa, an extraordinary geological transformation is underway as tectonic forces threaten to split the continent in two, paving the way for a new ocean over millions of years.

The Afar region, notorious for its scorching temperatures, is becoming a focal point for geologists and scientists around the world due to its unique positioning at the junction of three tectonic plates: the Nubian, Somali, and Arabian. This area, characterized by its geological instability, provides a rare opportunity to observe the process of continental division and ocean formation, making it an invaluable natural laboratory.

Christopher Moore, a doctoral student at the University of Leeds, describes the Afar region as the only place on Earth where the transition from a continental rift to an oceanic rift can be studied. Moore utilizes satellite radar technology to closely monitor volcanic activity in the area.

The East African Rift Valley, which runs through Ethiopia and Kenya, is part of this significant geological phenomenon. In 2005, an extensive 35-mile-long fissure appeared in Ethiopia’s desert, reaching depths of over 50 feet and a width of 65 feet, as reported by National Geographic. This dramatic emergence is attributed to the rifting of tectonic plates, forming lowland regions as they separate. The rapid formation of this fissure mirrored what typically occurs over several centuries in just a few days, explained Cynthia Ebinger, a geophysicist from Tulane University who has extensively studied the region.

Ebinger’s research has revealed that the rifting process can be both gradual and punctuated by sudden, explosive events. She compares it to the bursting of an overinflated balloon, emphasizing the pressures involved due to rising magma. This pressure builds until it causes the Earth’s crust to crack, creating new fissures that will eventually fill with water from the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, forming a new ocean. This process will eventually divide Africa into two distinct landmasses; a smaller continent comprising parts of present-day Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, and a larger one consisting of the remainder of the African continent.

According to Christy Till, a geologist from Arizona State University, the East African Rift may be in the early stages of a process that once split the African and South American continents, leading to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. Till underscores that this process is extremely slow, spanning millions of years.

Decades of research on the African rift have been significantly enhanced by modern technologies such as GPS, which allow scientists to measure tectonic movements with high precision. Ken Macdonald, a marine geophysicist and professor emeritus from the University of California, Santa Barbara, notes that GPS measurements can detect movements as minute as a few millimeters per year.

The Arabian plate is retreating from Africa at approximately one inch per year, while the Nubian and Somali plates part at slightly slower rates of half an inch to 0.2 inches per year. Over time, these seemingly tiny movements will dramatically alter the landscape of East Africa.

As tectonic plates continue to diverge, material from beneath the Earth’s surface emerges to form new oceanic crust. This nascent oceanic crust, distinguishable by its unique composition and density, signifies the beginning stages of a new ocean basin, as explained by Moore.

Scientists estimate that the Afar region may be submerged in oceanic waters in 5 to 10 million years, transforming the Horn of Africa into a newly formed continental landmass.

Currently, the Afar remains a stark and inhospitable expanse, with daytime temperatures soaring to 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius) and dropping to a mild 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) during the night. Despite these severe conditions, the region continues to captivate the scientific community, offering crucial insights into Earth’s geological future. As Cynthia Ebinger noted, while some may view the region as “Dante’s inferno,” it serves as a vital window into understanding the forces that shape our planet and what lies ahead: a divided Africa bisected by a nascent ocean.

According to ZME Science, these findings underscore the intricate and slow-moving processes governing the Earth, providing a glimpse into the potential future of the African continent.