Latest news with #UniversityofSouthampton
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First Post
2 days ago
- Science
- First Post
Is Africa cracking open? How Earth's ‘heartbeat' is tearing the continent apart, forming a new ocean
A group of researchers from across the world has found that a steady, rhythmic pulse deep beneath Ethiopia's Afar region, much like a human heartbeat, is gradually tearing the continent apart. Their study of the crust and mantle beneath the region suggests that this underground activity could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean read more The pulse is caused by molten magma pushing against the Earth's crust from below. AI Generated/Representational Image A strong, steady pulse has been found deep beneath Africa, moving like a heartbeat. This slow movement is gradually pulling the continent apart and could one day lead to the birth of a new ocean. That is what a group of researchers from around the world have said after studying the crust and mantle beneath Ethiopia's Afar region. ALSO READ | First glimpse of Sun's south pole captured: Why this is a big deal STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In areas where tectonic plates pull away from each other, the land stretches and becomes thinner. Over millions of years, it can break apart and form a new ocean basin. More from Explainers Pee power: How scientists have used urine to make dental implants In this explainer, we look at what the new study shows, what the researchers found, and how this could change the continent. What does the study say? Researchers from the University of Southampton have found a steady, rhythmic pulse deep under Ethiopia's Afar region, similar to a human heartbeat. This pulse is caused by molten magma pushing against the Earth's crust from below. Over time, this is slowly splitting the continent, and could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean. To understand this process, the team collected over 130 samples of volcanic rock from the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift. They also used existing data and advanced statistical models to study the crust and mantle beneath the surface. Active lava spilling out of the Erta Ale volcano in Afar. Image: Dr Derek Keir, University of Southampton/University of Florence For a long time, geologists believed that a hot column of rising material known as a mantle plume lay beneath Afar, helping pull the crust apart. But until now, the structure of this plume and how it behaves during rifting was not clearly understood. Emma Watts, lead author of the study and a geologist who worked on the research while at the University of Southampton, explained: 'We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary—it pulses—and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channelled by the rifting plates above. That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface." The study showed that the mantle plume under Afar contains chemical bands that repeat across the rift system, like a geological barcode. The spacing of these bands changes depending on the conditions in each section of the rift. The research was a joint effort by experts from 10 institutions, including the University of Southampton, Swansea University, Lancaster University, the Universities of Florence and Pisa, GEOMAR in Germany, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Addis Ababa University, and the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. Professor Tom Gernon, a co-author of the study and Earth Science expert at the University of Southampton, said: 'The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat.' He added that the way these pulses behave depends on how thick the crust is and how quickly it is moving apart. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The findings show that the plume under Afar is not fixed but reacts to the movement of the tectonic plates above. Microscope image of a thin sliver of one of the volcanic rocks from Afar. Image: Dr Emma Watts, University of Southampton/Swansea University The study, published in Nature Geoscience on June 25, explains how these plates affect the upward flow of hot mantle material. As the continent continues to split, a new ocean basin is taking shape, with seafloor spreading expected to continue along the entire rift over millions of years. With the first phase of research complete, the team will now focus on studying how the mantle is flowing beneath the surface and how fast it is moving. Is the continent splitting faster than expected? In January, Ken Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, said that the continent appeared to be breaking apart more quickly than previously thought. According to him, Somalia, along with parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, could eventually separate from the rest of Africa, forming a new landmass with its own coastline. 'What might happen is that the waters of the Indian Ocean would come in and flood what is now the East African Rift Valley,' Professor Macdonald told DailyMail. Although cracks are already visible along the rift, scientists believe it will still take several million years before the continent completely splits apart. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A new ocean is forming in East Africa
Rhythmic pulsing deep beneath landlocked east Africa is literally tearing the continent apart. But while the effects won't arrive on the planet's surface for a while, the end result is an entirely new ocean basin above it. An international research team reached their conclusion after analyzing more than 130 samples from young volcanoes located across a rare geological region below Ethiopia. The evidence is laid out in a study published on June 25 in the journal Nature Geoscience. The Afar Rift zone is one of the few examples on Earth where three tectonic rifts converge. Experts previously theorized this juncture of the Main Ethiopian, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden Rifts contained an active, hot upwelling of molten mantle. If true, this area—often known as a plume—would display clear effects on the tectonic plates above it. Rift zones typically stretch and pull tectonic plates until they eventually rupture. But how the plume beneath Afar's is structured, how it behaves, and how it is influencing the crust above it have remained mysteries. To investigate, a 10-institution team led by Swansea University geoscientist Emma Watts traveled to Ethiopia where they collected over 130 rock samples from both the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift. Researchers then combined sample analysis with existing data and advanced statistical modeling to explore the area's crust and mantle dynamics. As suspected, the Afar mantle plume isn't uniform or static. 'It pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures,' Watts said in a statement. 'These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channelled by the rifting plates above. That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface.' Tom Gernon, a University of Southampton earth science professor and study co-author, likened the chemical striping to a heartbeat. 'These pulses appear to behave differently depending on the thickness of the plate, and how fast it's pulling apart,' he added. 'In faster-spreading rifts like the Red Sea, the pulses travel more efficiently and regularly like a pulse through a narrow artery.' The team also confirmed that deep mantle upwellings are closely tied to tectonic plate motion. According to study co-author and earth scientist Derek Keir, the findings have 'profound implications' for how geologists can better understand surface volcanism, earthquakes, and continental breakups. As to when Earth will see the birth of a new ocean basin—experts like Watts aren't sure. But that doesn't mean anyone needs to start worrying. 'In terms of timescales—it's hard to put an exact number to it given that rifting rates can change, so to be honest we can't know for sure,' Watts told Popular Science in an email. She noted for reference that their study area's rifting rates range between just 5-16 millimeters each year.'[So] one thing we do know is that it will be on the order of millions of years,' she added. 'Hopefully, our next work will get closer to some probabilistic estimates.' CORRECTION: 6/25/25 12:50PM: A previous version of this article misidentified the annual rift rate cited by Watts.
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Why UK is a top higher study destination for Indians
Every year, thousands of Indian students apply to the UK for higher studies, drawn by its globally recognised universities and attractive post-study work opportunities. In 2023-24, for instance, 166,310 Indian students were enrolled in the UK, and the country continues to be a leading destination for those seeking high-quality education and promising universities in the UK offer outstanding subject expertise, hands-on learning and tailored support that can make all the difference to one's academic and career journey. This particularly holds for students seeking real-world impact from their post-study-work Graduate Route Visa, introduced in 2021, has played a key role in helping Indian graduates gain valuable work experience and build careers in the UK, with 70 per cent choosing to stay on after their studies under this recent India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is being viewed as yet another move in leveraging ties between the two countries. 'The India-UK FTA marks a new era of growth for two of the world's largest and most innovative economies,' says Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, the British Council. 'It will redefine the partnership for the next generation, strengthening trade links, supporting jobs and delivering shared prosperity. The deal is expected to increase bilateral trade, already worth 43 billion, by another 25.5 billion, supporting thousands of jobs across both countries.'advertisement While the FTA is focused primarily on trade, education remains a cornerstone of the unique living bridge that connects British and Indian people. Indian students represent one of the largest international groups in the UK, receiving nearly a quarter of all UK Sponsored Study Visas issued globally last year.'The UK is also proud to partner with India on its ambitious plans for the internationalisation of the Indian higher education landscape. The University of Southampton and University of Liverpool have announced plans to open new campuses in India, making it easier for students to gain a UK degree here at home,' says for its high-quality education and globally respected universities, many of which consistently rank among the top in international rankings, the institutions in the UK are also known to offer strong industry links and comprehensive student diverse, inclusive learning environment is another key draw; UK campuses host one of the highest ratios of international faculty and students globally, providing Indian students with a rich cultural experience alongside their studies. And beyond the classroom, the UK offers a welcoming and safe environment, a streamlined visa process, and the opportunity to stay back and work under the post-study work Graduate Route after graduation. These factors make it not only an ideal study destination but also a promising launch-pad for international Barrett points out, 'Strong UK-India educational ties, including collaborative online learning initiatives, further support India's NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 goals and expand access to quality education for millions. The UK's commitment to strengthening this partnership ensures that Indian students continue to benefit from world-class opportunities both on campus and beyond.'In this context, the British Council, through a range of strategic initiatives, acts as a catalyst for collaboration, mobility, capacity building, cross-cultural learning and mutual to India Today Magazine- Ends
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Earth Is Pulsing Beneath Africa Where The Crust Is Being Torn Apart
A deep, rhythmic pulse has been found surging like a heartbeat deep under Africa. At the Afar triple junction under Ethiopia, where three tectonic plates meet, molten magma pounds the planet's crust from below, scientists have discovered. There, the continent is slowly being torn asunder in the early formation stages of a new ocean basin. By sampling the chemical signatures of volcanoes around this region, a team led by geologist Emma Watts of Swansea University in the UK hoped to learn more about this wild process. "We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary – it pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures," says Watts, who was at the University of Southampton in the UK when the research was conducted. "These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channeled by the rifting plates above. That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface." Related: Our planet's surface is in a constant state of renovation. The tectonic plates into which the planetary crust is divided aren't fixed in position, but shift and collide and even slip underneath one another. The places at which they meet are usually hotspots of geological evolution, quite literally, rampant with volcanic activity that is reshaping the surface from below. The Afar junction is the point at which the Arabian, Nubian, and Somalian plates meet, each departing in their own directions to leave a widening gap under the Afar Triangle. Eventually, the crust will become so thin here that the surface will drop below sea level, creating a new ocean basin off the Red Sea. Scientists suspect that mantle upwelling is playing a role in this continental breakup process, but our understanding of how it works is limited. We can't exactly just dig down to have a close look, so Watts and her colleagues went for the next best thing: looking at material that has been disgorged onto Earth's surface from the mantle by way of volcano. They collected 130 samples of volcanic rock from around the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift, and conducted chemical analyses. They used these analyses combined with existing data to conduct advanced modeling to understand what's going on with the activity under the Triangle. The results showed distinct chemical bands or stripes that repeat across the rift system, delivered by a single, asymmetrical plume of material shaped by its environment and pushing upwards from the mantle. "The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat," says geologist Tom Gernon of the University of Southampton in the UK. "These pulses appear to behave differently depending on the thickness of the plate, and how fast it's pulling apart. In faster-spreading rifts like the Red Sea, the pulses travel more efficiently and regularly like a pulse through a narrow artery." If the team's model is correct, it suggests that mantle plumes and upwellings can be shaped by the dynamics of the tectonic plates above them – a finding that could be used to inform future research into the activity that is continually remodeling our planet. "We have found that the evolution of deep mantle upwellings is intimately tied to the motion of the plates above. This has profound implications for how we interpret surface volcanism, earthquake activity, and the process of continental breakup," says geophysicist Derek Keir of the University of Southampton and the University of Florence in Italy. "The work shows that deep mantle upwellings can flow beneath the base of tectonic plates and help to focus volcanic activity to where the tectonic plate is thinnest. Follow-on research includes understanding how and at what rate mantle flow occurs beneath plates." The research has been published in Nature Geoscience. Strange Cellular Entity Challenges Very Definition of Life Itself Sharks Do Something Bizarre When Turned Upside Down, And We Don't Know Why Orcas' Strange Beauty Routine Revealed by Scientists For The First Time
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Mysterious deep Earth ‘heartbeat' pulsing beneath Africa will form NEW ocean as it splits continent in two
Its pulses are gradually tearing the continent apart, starting in the Afar region of Ethiopia CONTINENTAL DRIFT Mysterious deep Earth 'heartbeat' pulsing beneath Africa will form NEW ocean as it splits continent in two Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW ocean is forming beneath Ethiopia as a "heartbeat"-like pulse deep below the Earth's surface splits the African continent in two, according to scientists. While a new ocean will eventually give six countries a new coastline, neither you nor I will ever be able to swim in its waters. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The East African Rift System drives volcanic activity in places like the Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia Credit: Getty 5 An international research team, led by Earth scientists at the University of Southampton, have discovered rhythmic surges of molten mantle rock rising from deep within the Earth. It is bubbling up beneath Africa - and its pulses are gradually tearing the continent apart, starting in the Afar region of Ethiopia. The Afar region is a rare place on Earth where three tectonic rifts converge: the Main Ethiopian Rift, the Red Sea Rift, and the Gulf of Aden Rift. Scientists previously thought Africa's tectonic plates, which collided to form large mountains and pulled apart to create vast basins millions of years ago, were simply moving apart again. However, a study in May suggested that intense volcanic activity deep underground may be fuelling the divide. Little was known about the hot upwelling of mantle and how it behaves beneath rifting tectonic plates - until now. The latest research, published in Nature Geoscience today, revealed that the giant fiery plume pulses like a "heartbeat" and is repeatedly pushing against the tectonic plate above it. When the tectonic plate eventually ruptures from the pressure, the continent will divide and a new ocean will flood in. "We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary – it pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures," lead author Dr Emma Watts, who conducted the research at the University of Southampton, said in a statement. Watts, who is now based at Swansea University, added: "These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channelled by the rifting plates above. Shocking moment 1,000ft fiery lava jet erupts in 6-hour volcano frenzy as scientists warn of wind spreading toxic gas "That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface." The team collected over 130 volcanic rock samples from across the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift to piece together the structure of the deep Earth that is splitting. These pulses appear to behave differently depending on the thickness of the plate, and how fast it's pulling apart. Professor Tom Gernon, a co-author of the study Researchers found that the pattern of the rhythmic pulse is dictated by the tectonic plate it bubbles beneath - such as how the plate moves, or how thick it is. Professor Tom Gernon, a co-author of the study, said: "The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat. "These pulses appear to behave differently depending on the thickness of the plate, and how fast it's pulling apart. "In faster-spreading rifts like the Red Sea, the pulses travel more efficiently and regularly like a pulse through a narrow artery." 5 Women work on their farm near a chasm suspected to have been caused by a heavy downpour along an underground fault-line near the Rift Valley town of Mai Mahiu, Kenya in 2018 Credit: Reuters / Thomas Mukoya Associate professor Dr Derek Keir, another co-author of the study, said the findings had "profound implications" for how scientists understand volcanoes, earthquake activity, and the process of continental breakup. 'The work shows that deep mantle upwellings can flow beneath the base of tectonic plates and help to focus volcanic activity to where the tectonic plate is thinnest," he added. The East African Rift System (EARS) is the largest active continental rift system on Earth. It is in the process of ripping through around 2,175miles (3,500km) of Africa. In January, Ken Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, warned the continent was splitting at a faster rate than expected. Somalia and parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania will form a distinct continent, accompanied by a fresh coastline. The new ocean could become as deep as the Atlantic if waters continue to flow into the area, Macdonald added. While cracks are already appearing along the rift, it is not expected to fully rupture for another several million years. 5 A deep chasm next to a repaired section of road that had been washed away during a heavy downpour at Maai-Mahiu in 2018, around 54km southwest of Nairobi capital, Kenya Credit: Getty - Contributor
