![]() These lines of evidence included, for example, matching geological formations and paleontological distributions from South America and Africa. This idea was transformed into the theory of “continental drift” by German meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1912, when he published a treatise with several lines of supporting evidence that went beyond simply matching the continents like puzzle pieces. The idea that the continents might have moved, or “drifted” over time can be traced back to the sixteenth century, when European cartographers compiled world maps based on the seagoing expeditions of that time. This unusual combination produced groundbreaking work on a number of subjects, including the origin of ocean basins and island arcs, mountain building, and the movement of continents. Hess possessed two valuable skills: careful attention to detail and the ability to form sweeping hypotheses. One of them, Harry Hess, was an instrumental figure in figuring out how plate tectonics worked. This process is called plate tectonics, and it transformed the thinking of geologists. Yet the surface of the Earth is not fixed, but rather broken up like a jigsaw puzzle into enormous plates that move. ![]() ![]() ![]() Nothing could feel more solid than the ground under our feet. Photo courtesy of Princeton University, Department of Geosciences. Harry Hess (1906–1969) in his World War II Naval uniform. ![]()
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