ScienceAugust 18, 2026
strata
STRAY-tuh
Definition
The distinct, horizontal layers of rock or sedimentary material that form the Earth's crust.
Etymology
The word comes from the Latin 'stratum', meaning 'layer' or 'covering,' which is the past participle of 'sternere,' meaning 'to spread out.'
In the news
In the article, the author describes how William Smith traced these rock layers across the country to create the first geological map, discovering that they follow a predictable order.
The man who drew the first geological map of an entire country spent twenty-eight years surveying it, sold his fossil collection to the British Museum to cover his debts, went to debtors' prison anyway, and walked home in 1819 to find bailiffs had taken his house
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com