Why It Took Scientists So Long To Accept This Very Obvious Idea

But did thee feel the Earth move?
We’re on PATREON! Support our show:   / itsokaytobesmart  
↓ More info and sources below ↓

Why do Africa and South America fit together? Anyone who’s ever looked at a map can see that Earth’s continents are kind of like a jigsaw puzzle. The idea that continents are constantly moving and weren’t always in their current spots is a pretty obvious idea, right? You might be surprised to learn that geologists only accepted that idea recently in the past few decades, and it figuring out how plate tectonics and continental drift work required some pretty strange evidence.

-----------
LEARN MORE:
Some background on Alfred Wegener: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/...

Lystrosaurus (ancient mammal relative): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lystros...

Glossopteris (ancient fern): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossop...

The splitting of Africa: http://theconversation.com/splitting-...

-----------
FOLLOW US:

Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/i...
Facebook:   / itsokaytobesmart  
Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson
Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com
Instagram: @DrJoeHanson
Snapchat: YoDrJoe
-----------

It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
Director: Joe Nicolosi
Writer: Shaena Montanari
Producer/editor/animator: Andrew Orsak
Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox

Produced by PBS Digital Studios
Music via APM
Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com