PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Alfred Wegener's Hypothesis
Alfred Wegener discovered something that would change our understanding of how the world works, plate tectonics.
The first thing that Alfred Wegener discovered was the continents looked like they would fit together like puzzle pieces.
Alfred Wegener found similar rock formations and fossils in continents separated by oceans. This generated vigorous debate.
G. W Lamplugh and F. Debenham
G. W Lamplugh and F. Debenham published a paper in which they analyzed and discussed the merits of Wegener’s Hypothesis.
G. W Lamplugh and F. Debenham agreed that Wegener had the start of a theory, but it needed more evidence or a mechanism. They acknowledged Wegener’s courage to step out and announce his controversial theory.
By G. W Lamplugh and F. Debenham commenting on Wegener’s Hypothesis opened discussions in the scientific community. They also offered some credibility to his ideas by saying his ideas have some merit.
Harry Hess discovered the Mid-Atlantic Ridge using sonar, and this provided the mechanism for continental drift that scientific community said was missing.
Hess's discovery is an example of when and why people accept a theory, because people only accept theories if there’s substantial evidence unearthed in the discovery's favor. The story doesn't end here, though.
The Vine-Matthews-Morely Hypothesis
The Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis proved that the sea floor spreads by measuring flips in the magnetic orientation of the sea floor samples they took, thus proving Hess correct.
The conformation of the Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis was the “nail in the coffin” for the debate over Continental Drift.
