Scientists discover missing continent after 375 years

INTRODUCTION
With how long the human species has been on Earth, it's surprising how many new discoveries are made each year.

Science has advanced so much over the years, with it even allowing experts to make an eye-opening discovery after reaching the deepest point on Earth.
But perhaps one of the most impressive discoveries researchers have made in recent times comes in the form of a missing continent.

We all know the seven continents of the world - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia, of course - but the elusive eighth continent was once part of an ancient supercontinent nicknamed the ‘great Southern Continent’.

It had been theorized about since Roman times and was even partially discovered in the 1600s.

Originally including Western Antarctica and Eastern Australia, the continent confused experts for many years.
Eventually, answers were uncovered - but it would take nearly four long centuries for geologists to finally come to agreement on the new continent.

So, let’s take things back to the initial discovery. menu-1menu-2menu-3
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Scientists discover missing continent after 375 years
Callum Jones



Published 20:57, 12 March 2024 GMT
| Last updated 20:57, 12 March 2024 GMT

Scientists discover missing continent after 375 years
Featured Image Credit: Featured Image Credit: GNS Science / Matthew Lovette/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

With how long the human species has been on Earth, it's surprising how many new discoveries are made each year.

Science has advanced so much over the years, with it even allowing experts to make an eye-opening discovery after reaching the deepest point on Earth.

This video cannot be played because of a technical error.(Error Code: 102006)
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But perhaps one of the most impressive discoveries researchers have made in recent times comes in the form of a missing continent.

We all know the seven continents of the world - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia, of course - but the elusive eighth continent was once part of an ancient supercontinent nicknamed the ‘great Southern Continent’.

It had been theorized about since Roman times and was even partially discovered in the 1600s.

Originally including Western Antarctica and Eastern Australia, the continent confused experts for many years.


Eventually, answers were uncovered - but it would take nearly four long centuries for geologists to finally come to agreement on the new continent.

So, let’s take things back to the initial discovery.

In 1642, Dutch businessman and sailor Abel Tasman set out to find the elusive eighth continent - also known as Terra Australis in Latin.


Setting sail from Jakarta, Indonesia, Tasman eventually landed on the Southern Island of New Zealand and started to explore.

Before he could set foot on dry land, he encountered the local Māori who were, well, less than impressed with the European sailor.

In fact, they were so frustrated by his presence that they rammed a boat passing messages between the Dutch ships with a canoe, killing four people.

Having failed to find the new land, Tasman travelled back home and never returned - ironically, this was the first time anyone would record information about the mysterious eighth continent.


CONCLUSION
While our planet may be very old, we are still learning an awful lot about it thanks to the handy work of scientists.

Last year, it was discovered that Australia could be harbouring a remarkable subterranean secret that could change planet Earth as we know it.

In a new essay published for The Conversation, geologist Andrew Glikson explained his latest research has much evidence that points to something huge.