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Wermine t1_jc6l5h7 wrote

>By 1967 most scientists in geology accepted the theory of plate tectonics. The root of this was Alfred Wegener's 1912 publication of his theory of continental drift, which was a controversy in the field through the 1950s.

Surprisingly recent.

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Volcic-tentacles t1_jc6lufa wrote

I was taught earth science by one the originators of tectonic plate theory, back in the 1980s.

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scruffye t1_jc7pm47 wrote

Yeah, I think the final nail in the coffin for those resisting it was when we finally got good data on the details of the sea floor and we could actually map out the forces that were driving plate tectonics. Also, science in general can be held back by older generations resisting new ideas. IIRC the theory of part of the heat in the Earth's core being caused by radioactive isotopes was basically dead in the water because Lord Kelvin refused to accept it, and his death finally allowed people to really start arguing for it.

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