Scientists from the University of Southampton discovered that the mantle beneath Ethiopia’s Afar region pulses every few million years — like a “heartbeat.”
🔹 These pulses come from a massive mantle plume rising from deep inside the Earth — pushing molten rock upward and stretching the land above it.
🔹 The Afar region is one of the only places on Earth where three tectonic plates are pulling apart in real time (Africa, Arabia, and Somalia).
🔹 Over time, this could lead to the formation of a new ocean, as East Africa gradually splits from the rest of the continent. 🌊
🔹 Satellites and GPS data confirm that the land is actually moving — RIGHT NOW — and the magma pulses even carry “chemical barcodes” that change depending on how fast the plates are spreading. 🔥
This discovery gives scientists rare insight into how continents break apart — and shows that our planet is literally alive with rhythm and movement. 🌐❤️🔥
📚 Sources:
Nature Geoscience | University of Southampton | NASA Earth Observatory | Geological Society of London
