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

Scientists using seismic data say the Turkana Rift is thinner and more advanced in rifting than previously thought.

The East African Rift is now seen as entering a critical phase that will eventually split Africa and form a new ocean over millions of years.

The finding sharpens the timeline for continental breakup and helps explain how tectonic activity may have preserved early hominin fossils.