How magnetic stripes proved seafloor spreading

The seafloor records Earth’s magnetic flips like a barcode

New rock forming on the ocean floor records the direction of Earth’s magnetic field. As the field flips and new seafloor moves outward, matching magnetic stripes form on both sides. These stripes became strong evidence that the seafloor is spreading.

A chemical reaction helps feed billions of people

Plants need usable nitrogen to grow, but most cannot take it directly from the air. The Haber–Bosch process converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is used to make fertilizers on an industrial scale. This allows agriculture to supply far more nitrogen than natural biological processes alone could provide. A chemical manufacturing breakthrough became one of the foundations of modern food production.

The Incas may have recorded stories in knots

Quipus are bundles of knotted cords known to have stored numbers and government records. But some evidence suggests that certain quipus also recorded history or stories. Because we can no longer fully read them, some Inca writing may still be hidden in their strings and knots.

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How magnetic stripes proved seafloor spreading

The seafloor records Earth’s magnetic flips like a barcode

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