Scientists have, for the first time, clearly captured a subduction zone in the act of breaking apart. These zones form where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another, and they are responsible for some of the most powerful geological events on Earth. The new findings, published in Science Advances , offer a rare look at how these massive systems evolve and raise new questions about earthquake risks in the Pacific Northwest. Subduction zones shape the planet in dramatic ways. They move continents, trigger major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and pull old crust deep into Earth's mantle. Yet despite their immense power, they do not last forever. Why Subduction Zones Eventually Fail If subduction zones continued indefinitely, continents would keep piling up, oceans would disappear, and much of Earth's geological history would be erased. Scientists have long wondered what causes these systems to shut down.…