SMRTR Science & EngineeringJul 9, 2026Interesting Engineering

In a global first, scientists observe the formation of Earth’s crust in the ocean

SMRTR summary

French scientists made history by directly observing new ocean crust forming in the Southeast Indian Ridge in April 2024. Using underwater hydrophones, they recorded 150 million cubic meters of magma tearing through the seafloor in two hours, causing it to collapse 4.2 meters — revealing that seafloor spreading happens in sudden violent bursts, not gradually.

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