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Detailed 3D model of seafloor spreading, showing tectonic plates, layered rock, magma, and subduction zones.

Detailed 3D model of seafloor spreading, showing tectonic plates, layered rock, magma, and subduction zones.

unique 3D model of seafloor spreading resembles a layered time machine built into a rectangular box, with a sculpted mid-ocean ridge running down the center, flanked by symmetrically colored magnetic stripes representing polarity reversals over geological time. Transparent acrylic sheets stack above one another, each labeled by age (e.g., 0–10 MYA, 10–20 MYA), revealing how the ocean floor grows over time. Beneath the surface, painted mantle layers display curved convection current arrows, with LED lighting beneath the ridge simulating glowing magma. At both ends of the model, angled clay crust dives beneath raised continental plates to form realistic subduction zones, complete with miniature volcanoes and lava made from red yarn or LEDs. Interactive sliders allow viewers to physically move the plates apart, and a futuristic “what happens next” module projects possible plate movements 50 million years from now, transforming the model into an engaging, educational, and visually immersive exploration of Earth's dynamic crust. See more