The Earth's crust under California is peeling away, like how continents were formed. This process is called lithospheric foundering. It's happening under the Sierra Nevada mountains right now. The continental crust, which is less dense, sits higher and lasts longer than oceanic crust. This peeling process separates lighter materials from heavier ones, creating continents. The lithosphere, which is part of Earth's mantle and crust, is peeling away and sinking into the deeper mantle under the Sierra Nevada. This peeling is not visible on the surface, but deep earthquakes have been observed in the region. Scientists studied earthquake records and found a layer between 25 and 43 miles deep where rocks are shearing away from the crust. This process is happening actively in the central Sierra under Yosemite National Park. Similar crust-building processes may be happening in other parts of the world, like in New Zealand and Turkey. Researchers are still studying this phenomenon to learn more about the Earth's geology.