Africa Is Breaking Apart Faster Than We Thought, Forming a New Ocean

Science Alert ^ | 17 Sep 2026 | Michael Irving

[Rummyfan]

Geologists have discovered that the African continent will split apart sooner than we thought. An active rift has reached a "critical threshold" and will soon break apart, forming a new ocean.

That said, 'soon' is a relative term – it'll still take a few million years more, but that's a blink of an eye on a geological scale.

"We found that rifting in this zone is more advanced, and the crust is thinner, than anyone had recognized," says Christian Rowan, a geoscientist at Columbia University.

"Eastern Africa has progressed further in the rifting process than previously thought."

The most intriguing thing about the find is its implications for our own history. The Turkana Rift Zone in Kenya is rich in early hominin fossils, which implies it was a key location for human evolution.

But the new find suggests the region may not necessarily have been more important to our ancestors than anywhere else in Africa – instead, it may just be that these geologic processes created very favorable conditions for fossilization.

[Rummyfan]

Well..... it doesn't affect my NFL picks for this weekend.....

[dfwgator]

[ansel12]

“”””it’ll still take a few million years more””””

I don’t need this kind of stress right now.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Africa crumbling? That's not news.

[for-q-clinton]

God is fixing the planet.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

But the new find suggests the region may not necessarily have been more important to our ancestors than anywhere else in Africa – instead, it may just be that these geologic processes created very favorable conditions for fossilization.

That's actually pretty big. We've made a lot of assumption based on where fossils were found, assuming that "where the fossils are" is no different than saying "where the people were". And of course, the negative was assumed to be equally true. No fossils = no people.

But if that isn't true, then the basis for the "out of Africa" thesis, or at least the specifics of it, get a bit weaker.

[Waverunner]

They will come for Florida soon.

[yuleeyahoo]

Trump’s fault!

[real saxophonist]

Well, of course there's Africa.

But there's also this:

Cash in Transit Heist Leo Prinsloo and Lloyd Mthombeni Front Inside cab, Rear View

Leo's book is good to go.

[HYPOCRACY]

I’m already calling it the American Ocean.

[ScottfromNJ]

“it’ll still take a few million years”

Oh no, I was sure hoping I had more time to prepare!

[fidelis]

That said, 'soon' is a relative term – it'll still take a few million years more, but that's a blink of an eye on a geological scale.

Beat the rush: By future beachfront property now and make a fortune.

[Sequoyah101]

Just something else to worry about.

[blackdog]

The only real question is, “When will Judge Boasberg issue a stay?”

[Sequoyah101]

I can see the Farside cartoon now of a couple sitting in beech chairs dried to a crisp somewhere in the depression under a glaring sun labeled, “Waiting for the Ocean”

[Chani]

Africa crumbling? That's not [bad] news.

[Sequoyah101]

beach chairs...

[alexander_busek]

We've made a lot of assumption based on where fossils were found, assuming that "where the fossils are" is no different than saying "where the people were". And of course, the negative was assumed to be equally true. No fossils = no people.

Like finding more lost pennies under a street light! It's not because pennies "like" light - it's because they're easier to find there, where they can be seen.

But: No, anthropologists have long known about "selection bias."

Regards,

[SaveFerris]

That will take a
Tectonic Shift!

In the Continental Drift

Brakes Good
Tires Fair...

We could have a Lost Planet

Commander

[equaviator]

He should give this new ocean a name: The American African Ocean.