For the first time, scientists have directly observed a subduction zone breaking apart deep beneath the ocean, offering a rare glimpse into a process that usually unfolds over millions of years. The discovery centres on the Juan de Fuca Plate, which is slowly sinking beneath the North American Plate off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Using advanced seismic imaging, researchers found that instead of moving as a single solid slab, the plate is tearing into pieces as it descends. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, provide new insight into how these massive geological systems evolve and may reshape how scientists understand earthquakes in the region. Subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, are among the most powerful forces on Earth. They are responsible for major earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the recycling of Earth’s crust into the mantle. Yet scientists have long known that these zones do not last forever.…