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Discovery of Molten Plume Sparks New Ocean Formation

7/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking discovery by researchers led by Emma Watts at Swansea University has unveiled a pulsing plume of molten rock beneath Ethiopia's Afar region. This dynamic force is not only reshaping the landscape but also driving the continent's rifting and the potential birth of a new ocean, influencing tectonic movements, volcanism, and earthquake activity.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking discovery by researchers led by Emma Watts at Swansea University has unveiled a pulsing plume of molten rock beneath Ethiopia's Afar region. This dynamic force is not only reshaping the landscape but also driving the continent's rifting and the potential birth of a new ocean, influencing tectonic movements, volcanism, and earthquake activity.