Do you think the theory of the continental drift is true?
141390
First of all, a scientific theory is not defined the way the other answerer apparently believes. A Theory in science is the highest level of certainty, and is equivalent to the term Law that is used in some fields of science. The common usage of the word theory does not apply to scientific theory, that is it is not a hypothesis or conjecture, it is proven to the highest degree possible.(Apparently this confuses most of the creationists who somehow think using the word theory implies a high level of uncertainty).\n\nIf you would like to read more on the definition of Theory and Laws please go here: \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory\n\nContinental drift is now referred to as Plate Tectonics. It is a well proven theory with multiple sets of observations that demonstrate that it is taking place today as you read this. The recent tsunami in Indonesia was an indirect result of plate tectonic movement that is taking place on the earth continuously. The Pacific Ocean is currently spreading by about 4 centimeters each year (about 2 inches). \n\nIf you examine the outline of many continents you will be able to see similarities in the shape, much like jigsaw puzzle parts that are not connected. South American and Africa are a good example of this. One interesting form of proof of the spreading that split South American away from Africa are oil reservoirs in West Africa and Brazil that have oil that is chemically and biologically identical. (All petroleum can be identified using special biomarkers and analyses as unique to its own source)  Since there is no way they could have migrated through the earth to these widespread locations, that oil must have been formed while Africa and South America were still connected. There are many more examples of biological organisms that are found on widely separated continents that are related. Another great example of this is that fossils found on Antarctica that come from tropical plants and wood show that that continent was once near the equator. Similar things can be found in northern Siberia, and northern Canada and Alaska. \n\nOther examples of this process and the jig-saw puzzle like pieces that have come together are many mountain ranges. In the high Sierra Mountains, above 10,000 ft elevations are deposits of marine limestone (now marble) that were once reefs on islands in the ocean we now call the Pacific Ocean. \n\nOver the past 250 million years a supercontinent called Pangaea has spread apart to the continents we know today. You can see a good illustration of this at \nhttp://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Pangea/Pangea4.html\nThat site has some good diagrams of Pangaea and how it has broken up and the plates have moved. It also explains the mechanism. \nHere is an animated version that shows the breakup:\nhttp://www.scotese.com/sfsanim.htm\n\nPrior to Pangaea, there was another supercontinent called Gondwana and another supercontinent called Laurasia combined with Gondwana to form Pangaea. Prior to the consolidation of Gondwana was another supercontinent called Rodinia. This supercontinent formation is apparently and hypothetically a cycle that the planet completes every few hundred million years, moving continents, building mountain ranges, and rifting other continents apart creating new oceans. \nOne of the best web sites on the internet that shows the various stages of the planet's plate tectonics is the Paleomap Project here:\nhttp://www.scotese.com/earth.htm\n Here is an illustration of Rodinia\nhttp://www.scotese.com/earth.htm\n Here is an illustration of Rodinia\nhttp://www.scotese.com/Rodinia3.htm\n\nSource(s):\n\nI'm a geologist.
859326
You guys keep trying.\n\nThe theory of planetary motion is pretty well accepted, and that only took 300 years. You can SEE that the sun moves around the earth, but these fuzzy-headed people called astronomers came up with this wild theory - the earth moves around the sun!\n\nSo today, 99.99% of all biologists, zoologists and botanists tell us the theory of evolution is the best explanation they have of the diversity - and similarity - of life. Christian biologists, Jewish bioligists, Muslim biologists, Sikh biologists . . .\n95% of the Christian fundamentalists reject the theory. (85% of them accept the theory of planetary motion, however.)\n\nEvolution is only a theory and it flies in the face of common sense. There is no way a Great Dane and a toy poodle can have the same ancestor.\n\nMaybe by 2206 that 95% rate will be down to 15%. We can hope.
63495
Techtonic scientist who study continental drift (which is ongoing) believe that at one time long ago almost all land masses were collected into a huge circle called Pangea (meaning all land).  When it split up to drift into present locations it was probably pure coincidence why pointy parts of land masses pointed one way rather than another.  My pet theory is that luna tides (that affect the oceans and earth's crust) may have biased the direction of "cracks" in the land masses, but perhaps I'm just a luna-tick.  Incidentally the term lunatic originally applied to scientists who met once a month when they could travel at night with the aid of the light of a full moon.
76598
There is good evidence to suggest that the global patterns are shifting abnormally, but there is also good evidence to suggest that the patterns are not shifting abnormally.\n\nAsk again in 20 years and we'll know for sure.  ;)
643922
No doubt, it's a fact. Besides all evidence already discussed by other answerers (earthquakes, fossil record, continent shapes, geological models), today there are *direct measurements* of the changing distance between tectonic plates, using laser or radio interferometry (see reference).
553136
I dont think the early map makers were the ones thinking the continents moved.. \n\nI think it was geologists who discovered the tectonic plates and how the earth's crust is moving, then they analyze ancient rocks from two continents and compare them, if they are the same then they must come from the same continent
262181
There is a body of evidence to support this theory.  See article at following link   www.gasresources.net/Introduction.htm.  The site www.gasresources.net has several other interesting articles.
619767
Von Daniken had some interesting theories.  While I do not believe specifically what he wrote, I do believe that we have been visited by extra-terrestials over the centuries.
1170499
yes.\nthe principle of relativity which was discovered as far back as the 17th century essentially states that motion and position of an object are  RELATIVE to the frame of referance of the observer.For example,from the earth's POINT OF VIEW, the sun moves.(which is why we say that the sun rises in the east & sets in the west).\nBut from the sun's frame of referance,it is the earth that moves around it. this is an obvious & established fact and is known as principle of relativity.\nwhen Einsten came around, he proposed the special theory of relativity which predicts stronger & surprising results.For eg,all along,the principal of relativity assumes that the length of an object does not change when it's in relative motion.it also assumes that the time passed on a moving frame is the same as that of a stationary frame.these assumptions were proved wrong using  special relativity.\nSo there is no reason to 'mix' up the principal of relativity & special relativity.for a fuller treatment,you may visit the folowing webpage:\nhttp://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/HistTopics/Special_relativity.html
724158
Er... the theory of evoltion?  It's just a theory though.  Lots of loop holes.  :)
135108
It will pretty much look the same. Normal plate techtonics\nmoves continents very very slowly and you need more then a\nthousand year window to see any real difference. Just look\nat maps from the year 1006 if you don't believe me.
532102
I think that might be true
79989
Still more theory than fact.\nIt is responsible for the force of gravity.
94737
Like a lot of things in science, it is hard to say exactly who first came up with this idea. \n\nHowever, probably the best contender is Professor Harry Hess of Princeton University. Hess noticed that the sediment near the mid-ocean ridges was much thinner, as though the sea floor there was newer than it was farther from the ridges. \n\nHowever, there are many others who played a part in solving this puzzle. Alfred Wegner, a German meterologist, is often credited with first proposing the theory of plate tectonics. Wegner noticed that the coastlines of South America and Africa fit together like pieces of a puzzle, but Francis Bacon, Benjamin Franklin, Antonio Snider-Pellegrini and others had noticed this before. Vine and Mathews observed the magnetic stripes on the sea floor, confirming Hess' theory.
913849
Yes it is true.  But why that is true is open to many interpretations - one of them being that whites, as representing the major thrust of civilization (I do not mean the ONLY such one), have in a large part moved on beyond sex being primarily for procreation and have become "deviants", having sex primary for pleasure, enjoying cuisine, art, becoming addicted, perverted and less "normal" with respect to the original definition of what a human should do/want/be.  \n\nThis could be considered to be accentuated by the intellectual thrust since the 1900's towards the acceptance of Malthus' theory that population grows geometrically but food grows arithmetically, meaning that in the end, if given enough time all people will starve because it would be impossible to grow food fast enough to keep up with population growth.  I seriously doubt if most of the world is aware of that factor because they do things pretty much the same as they always have and cannot believe that it could ultimately lead to their demise because it never did before.  In other words, the slow rate of destruction for the last 15,000 (or so) years is too slow to perceive and can only be studied and understood by the use of science, which, as you know, was mainly developed in the West.  \n\nBy the way, meaning no disrespect, you will notice that the highest birthrates among whites are found mainly in areas formerly connected with the Mediterranean as they have kept closest to the older ways, unlike their northern germanic cousins who have been more influenced by the scientific revolution as it affects societal behavior.  It is well-known that most of the deviant sex clubs in Europe are in Germany as it is the most scientifically progressive and the farthest removed from the old "cradle of the Mediterranean family-oriented" concept.\n\nHope you realize I personally respect all peoples around the Globe but the truth is the truth no matter how much it hurts or feels good.
356538
Two main reasons:\n\nFirst, he could not explain *how* continents were able to move.\n\nSecond, he suggested that the reate of drift was ten to a hundred times faster than we now know to be true.\n\nI would suggest that, third, the idea is so counterintuitive -- because human lives are so short, in geological terms, continents seem to us to be utterly constant and permanent.
544439
Yes, it is still possible. Infact, what you are describing are the beginning stages of an ice age. For more information I suggest you look up the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. For a brief picture:\nAs global temperatures rise, polar ice melts and ocean temperatures rise. As the ocean temperatures rise the North Atlantic and North Pacific drifts cease to flow, which helps maintain uniform salinity (as both are actually FRESH WATER streams in the ocean). When this happens, the northern most latitudes are no longer warmed and rapid cooling begins, which in turn leads us through an ice age. When the reverse happens, we come out of an ice age and the cycle begins anew.