Scientists May Disagree, but It’s Time to Admit It: Continents Don’t Exist

Greenland and Canada are 710 miles apart, yet researchers have discovered a (micro)continent in between.

Continents don't exist
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javier-jimenez

Javier Jiménez

Senior Writer
javier-jimenez

Javier Jiménez

Senior Writer

Head of science, health and environment at Xataka. Methodologist turned communicator, I write about science, ideas and social change. LinkedIn

40 publications by Javier Jiménez

For the past few days, researchers from the University of Derby have claimed they’ve found a new (micro)continent in the Davis Strait, between Greenland and North America.

And yes, it sounds unbelievable. Did a continent somehow vanish into the 710 miles of that strait?

What the hell is a continent? The simplest answer is “a large landmass surrounded by water.” That works in theory, but in reality, things get complicated. So, if someone asks, “How many continents are there in the world?” the only logical answer is: “It depends.”

“It depends” on what? Many geographical divisions are based on history and culture, not science.

  • In English-speaking countries, it’s common to say there are seven continents: Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Antarctica, and Oceania.
  • In Romance-language countries, the standard answer is six continents, with North and South America considered one.
  • In former Soviet states, six continents are also recognized, but they combine Europe and Asia into Eurasia while keeping North and South America separate.

There are other possibilities, too. For example, Asia, Africa, and Europe could be considered a single continent, leaving just four: America, Australia, Antarctica, and Afro-Eurasia. Some might even exclude Antarctica, since without its ice, it would be a scattered archipelago, with its largest island smaller than Australia.

The truth: Continents are just social constructs. Continents aren’t scientific concepts. They’re human-made divisions, much like counties or provinces. From a geological perspective, the real discussion is about tectonic plates—and even defining those is complicated. Most estimates suggest at least 15 major plates.

So, what did the Derby researchers find? Instead of using cultural or historical definitions, the researchers studied the Earth’s crust thickness. There are two types:

  • Continental crust (about 21 miles thick).
  • Oceanic crust (between 5 and 6 miles thick).

Their findings show that as tectonic plates shifted between Canada and Greenland, the Earth’s crust reconfigured itself. What should have been oceanic crust instead developed into protocontinental crust—thicker than expected, but not quite a full continent.

Why it matters. At first glance, it may seem like an academic detail. But this discovery is actually a big deal because science still doesn’t fully understand tectonic dynamics. While experts have models and theories, there are still more questions than answers.

Studying the formation of a protomicrocontinent is a unique opportunity to learn more about continental shifts—like the one actively splitting Africa in two. These shifts aren’t just theoretical—they have real-world consequences that affect millions of people.

Image | Kyle Glenn (Unsplash)

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