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Atlantic Ocean's Formation Date Pushed Back 4 Million Years

5/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Geologists at Heriot Watt University have made a groundbreaking discovery: the Atlantic Ocean formed approximately 117 million years ago, four million years earlier than previously believed. This revelation, drawn from sediment waves off Guinea-Bissau, indicates that the ocean's emergence triggered major climatic shifts, reshaping our understanding of Earth's geological history and future climate forecasts.

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Story summary

Geologists at Heriot Watt University have made a groundbreaking discovery: the Atlantic Ocean formed approximately 117 million years ago, four million years earlier than previously believed. This revelation, drawn from sediment waves off Guinea-Bissau, indicates that the ocean's emergence triggered major climatic shifts, reshaping our understanding of Earth's geological history and future climate forecasts.