"Revolutionary Study Challenges Conventional Wisdom on Mountain Formation"

A groundbreaking study led by Colorado State University challenges traditional views on mountain formation, particularly in subduction zones like southern Italy. The research suggests that the descension of a tectonic plate through Earth's mantle and its alteration of mantle flow may play a significant role in mountain building, contrary to the belief of crust crumpling and thickening. The study utilized landscapes in southern Italy to reconstruct extensive histories of mountain formation, revealing that the primary factor controlling rock uplift is the descension of the lower plate through the mantle. This finding challenges previous models and offers a new understanding of the mountain building process.