http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/earthquakes/ Earthquake News. Early detection, historic earthquakes, earthquake measurement, smart building methods and more in our earthquake research news. en-us Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:05:02 EST Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:05:02 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/earthquakes/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214100819.htm Seismic risk at the Fukushima nuclear plant increased after the magnitude 9 earthquake that hit Japan last March, scientists report. The new study, which uses data from over 6,000 earthquakes, shows the 11 March tremor caused a seismic fault close to the nuclear plant to reactivate. The research suggests authorities should strengthen the security of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to withstand large earthquakes that are likely to directly disturb the region. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:08:08 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214100819.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214100817.htm Mathematicians have developed the theory for a Harry Potter style 'cloaking' device which could protect buildings from earthquakes. Scientists have been working on the theory of invisibility cloaks which, until recently, have been merely the subject of science fiction. In recent times, however, scientists have been getting close to achieving 'cloaking' in a variety of contexts. The new work focuses on the theory of cloaking devices which could eventually help to protect buildings and structures from vibrations and natural disasters such as earthquakes. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:08:08 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214100817.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213143327.htm Geologists have a new tool to study how earthquakes change the landscape, and it's giving them insight into how earthquake faults behave. Scientists from the United States, Mexico and China report the most comprehensive before-and-after picture yet of an earthquake zone, using data from the magnitude 7.2 event that struck near Mexicali, northern Mexico in April 2010. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213143327.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095351.htm Not surprisingly, victims of a natural disaster can experience stress and anxiety, but a new study indicates that it might also cause them to make more errors - some serious - in their daily lives. Researchers have explored how cognitive performance can decline after earthquakes and other natural disasters. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095351.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209144007.htm Geologists have a new tool to study how earthquakes change the landscape down to a few inches, and it's giving them insight into how earthquake faults behave. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209144007.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135846.htm Recent earthquake damage has exposed the vulnerability of existing structures to strong ground movement. Researchers are now analyzing shape-memory alloys for their potential use in constructing seismic-resistant structures. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135846.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202151604.htm Geophysics researchers have created a new way to study fractures by producing elastic waves, or vibrations, through using high-intensity light focused directly on the fracture itself. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:16:16 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202151604.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110132416.htm A new study of aid to Haiti finds that 36 percent of households in the directly affected area -- and 54 percent of those living in camps -- still have not recovered to their pre-earthquake levels almost two years after the disaster. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110132416.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104133151.htm Exactly 100 years ago Alfred Wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the public for the first time. Modern plate tectonics confirmed his ideas by flipping them upside down. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104133151.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208121016.htm A groundbreaking study shows that earthquakes, including the recent 2010 temblors in Haiti and Taiwan, may be triggered by tropical cyclones. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:10:10 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208121016.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207201749.htm Stress in the second and third months of pregnancy can shorten pregnancies, increase the risk of pre-term births and may affect the ratio of boys to girls being born, leading to a decline in male babies. These are the conclusions of a study that investigated the effect on pregnant women of the stress caused by the 2005 Tarapaca earthquake in Chile. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:17:17 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207201749.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205181924.htm Researchers discovered that the destructive tsunami generated by the March 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake was a long-hypothesized "merging tsunami" that doubled in intensity over rugged ocean ridges, amplifying its destructive power before reaching shore. Satellites captured not just one wave front that day, but at least two, which merged to form a single double-high wave far out at sea -- one capable of traveling long distances without losing its power. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205181924.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205102422.htm New testing conducted in a steep, mountainous region of Utah, using mining induced events, is providing a new set of data necessary for better predictions on building codes, especially when earthquakes are a factor. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205102422.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130142245.htm Geophysicists have established a mode of action that can explain the irregular distribution of strong earthquakes at the San Andreas Fault in California. The scientists examined the electrical conductivity of the rocks at great depths, which is closely related to the water content within the rocks. From the pattern of electrical conductivity and seismic activity they were able to deduce that rock water acts as a lubricant. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130142245.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130141849.htm Earthquakes are some of the most daunting natural disasters that scientists try to analyze. Though Earth's major fault lines are well known, there is little scientists can do to predict when an earthquake will occur or how strong it will be. And, though earthquakes involve millions of tons of rock, a team of researchers has helped discover an aspect of friction on the nanoscale that may lead to a better understanding of the disasters. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130141849.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128121130.htm Scientists are a step closer to predicting when and where earthquakes will occur after taking a fresh look at the formation of the Andes, which began 45 million years ago. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128121130.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111117154635.htm New research suggests that ozone gas emitted from fracturing rocks could serve as an indicator of impending earthquakes. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:46:46 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111117154635.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102125640.htm A researcher has developed a special camera that can detect more than 1,000 colors -- and can diagnose contaminants and other environmental hazards in real time. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102125640.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101134315.htm An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will fly near Earth on Nov. 8, 2011. While there is no danger of it hitting the planet, an asteroid impact expert says a similar-sized object hitting Earth would result in a 4,000-megaton blast, magnitude 7.0 earthquake and, should it strike in the deep ocean, 70-foot-high tsunami waves 60 miles from the splashdown site. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101134315.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111026102740.htm Researchers who spoke to nearly 2,000 teenagers three months after an 8.0 earthquake found high level of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially among girls and senior students. The findings underline the need for young people to receive prompt psychological support after major disasters to avoid them developing long-term mental health problems. The study may be of particular interest to journalists doing follow-up pieces on the aftermath of the Turkish earthquake. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111026102740.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153947.htm In experiments mimicking the speed of earthquakes, geophysicists detail a phenomenon known as flash heating. They report that because fault surfaces touch only at microscopic, scattered spots, these contacts are subject to intense stress and extreme heating during earthquakes, lowering their friction and thus the friction of the fault. The localized, intense heating can occur even while the temperature of the rest of the fault remains largely unaffected. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153947.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112917.htm Researchers have developed a new system that will enable highway construction engineers in the field to immediately analyze soil movements caused by active landslides and erosion and use the powerful tool of LIDAR to better assess and deal with them. The advance is just the latest innovation with this laser technology, the use of which has mushroomed in recent years in the study of everything from earthquakes and tsunamis to beach erosion and road construction. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112917.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112457.htm A geologist's sharp eyes and upset stomach has led to the discovery, and almost too-close encounter, with an otherworldly geological process operating in a remote corner of northern Chile's Atacama Desert. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112457.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111006141406.htm Geologists have produced the most detailed picture of southern California's lithosphere, which is crucial to understanding the geological forces that shaped the area. The team found the lithosphere's thickness differs markedly throughout, yielding new insights into how rifting shaped the southern California terrain. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111006141406.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003190819.htm While earthquakes can't yet be predicted, scientists are making advances in their ability to forecast where they are most likely to occur, with the best forecasts now about 10 times more accurate than a random prediction, according to a new study. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:08:08 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003190819.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928142441.htm Excavated trenches reveal two faults that bound the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada in Antelope Valley, California and the Carson Range in Reno, Nevada; a new model changes predictions of amplified ground motion in Seattle basin. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928142441.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928110018.htm Earthquake prediction remains an imperfect science, but the best forecasts are about 10 times more accurate than a random prediction, according to a new study. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928110018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926095335.htm An international team of scientists has provided new insights into the processes behind the evolution of the planet by demonstrating how salty water and gases transfer from the atmosphere into the Earth's interior. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926095335.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110923104224.htm Six full-size pickup trucks took a wild ride on a 16-foot-high steel bridge when it shook violently in a series of never-before-conducted experiments to investigate the seismic behavior of a curved bridge with vehicles in place. The 145-foot-long, 162-ton steel and concrete bridge was built atop four large, 14-foot by 14-foot, hydraulic shake tables. Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110923104224.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921172840.htm Researchers report that Japan's power plant accident fallout extended as far as the San Francisco Bay area, resulting in elevated levels of radioactive material that were nonetheless very low and posed no health risk to the public. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921172840.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919194102.htm When the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on March 11, 2011, the world witnessed the largest nuclear incident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. In a special Fukushima issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published today by SAGE, experts examine the current and future impact of Fukushima, what might have been done to lessen the scale of the accident, and the steps we need to take both in Japan and worldwide to prevent another nuclear tragedy. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919194102.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110913172713.htm As large parts of the United States recover from nature's one-two punch -- an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene -- building researchers warn that a double whammy of seismic and wind hazards can increase the risk of structural damage to as much as twice the level implied in building codes. Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110913172713.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912104823.htm Earth's coral reefs have not been faring well in recent decades, facing multiple threats from pollution, disease, elevated water temperatures, and overfishing. Often referred to as the "rainforests of the Sea," coral reefs support a wide variety of marine life, help protect shorelines, and contribute significantly to tourism and the fishing industry. A new study looks at a rare but catastrophic impact on reefs: the damage caused by natural disasters such as an earthquakes. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912104823.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824101632.htm A magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattled southern Colorado Monday, August 22, at 11:46 p.m. MDT, causing strong shaking, but minor damage, and was felt throughout the state of Colorado and neighboring states. The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system issued a Green Alert, indicating a low probability for fatalities or significant economic losses. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824101632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824101127.htm A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the National Capital Area on Tuesday, August 23, at 1:51p.m. (EDT), causing moderate shaking and potentially significant damage, and was felt throughout Northern Virginia and neighboring areas. No casualties are expected. The earthquake occurred near Louisa and Mineral, Va., approximately 100 miles southwest of Washington, DC. It was a shallow earthquake, and shaking was recorded all along the Appalachians, from Georgia to New England. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:11:11 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824101127.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110812094507.htm Like scars that remain on the skin long after a wound has healed, earthquake fault lines can be traced on Earth's surface long after their initial rupture. Typically, this line of intersection is more complicated at the surface than at depth. But a new study of the April 4, 2010, El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake in Baja California, Mexico, reveals a reversal of this trend. Superficially, the fault involved in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake appeared to be straight, but at depth, it's warped and complicated. Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110812094507.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110811133132.htm Like scars that remain on the skin long after a wound has healed, earthquake fault lines can be traced on Earth's surface long after their initial rupture. Typically, this line of intersection between the area where the fault slips and the ground is more complicated at the surface than at depth. But a new study of the April 4, 2010, El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake in Mexico reveals a reversal of this trend. Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110811133132.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110809162011.htm Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110809162011.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808132542.htm A NASA scientist and her colleagues were able to observe for the first time the power of an earthquake and tsunami to break off large icebergs a hemisphere away. The researchers were able to link the calving of icebergs from the Sulzberger Ice Shelf in Antarctica following the Tohoku Tsunami, which originated with an earthquake off the coast of Japan in March 2011. The finding marks the first direct observation of such a connection between tsunamis and icebergs. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808132542.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808124248.htm Researchers have examined some of last spring's massive tornado damage and conclude in a new report that more intensive engineering design and more rigorous, localized construction and inspection standards are needed to reduce property damage and loss of life. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808124248.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721152849.htm Operations research models developed by a team at the Georgia Institute of Technology helped CARE International pick three locations worldwide to supply relief quickly to victims of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, according to a new paper. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721152849.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721150452.htm Innovative and interdisciplinary research by faculty at the University of Texas at Austin is helping to improve the safety and efficiency of hydraulic fracturing, identify issues that need to be corrected and untangle the knowns and unknowns of a process that is expected to constitute perhaps half of the nation's total natural gas supplies in coming years. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:04:04 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721150452.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718101216.htm Japan's March 11 Tohoku Earthquake is among the strongest ever recorded, and because it struck one of the world's most heavily instrumented seismic zones, this natural disaster is providing scientists with a treasure trove of data on rare magnitude 9 earthquakes. Among the new information is what is believed to be the first study of how a shock this powerful affects the rock and soil beneath the surface. Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718101216.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714091935.htm Researchers have recorded an airglow signature in the upper atmosphere produced by a tsunami using a camera system based in Maui, Hawaii. Coupling of the ocean surface to the upper atmosphere enables tsunami imaging. The first ionospheric signature precedes the modeled ocean tsunami by one hour. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714091935.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110712102318.htm Earthquakes and volcanoes are known for their ability to transform Earth's surface, but new research in the Caribbean has found they can also move ancient Earth rock foundations more than 1,000 miles. Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110712102318.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110710204240.htm Olympia, site of the famous Temple of Zeus and original venue of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, was presumably destroyed by repeated tsunamis that traveled considerable distances inland, and not by earthquake and river floods as has been assumed to date. Evidence in support of this new theory on the virtual disappearance of the ancient cult site on the Peloponnesian peninsula comes from a researcher in Germany. Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110710204240.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110706134139.htm Bringing fresh insight into long-standing debates about how powerful geological forces shape the planet, from earthquake ruptures to mountain formations, scientists have identified a new mechanism driving Earth's massive tectonic plates. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110706134139.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110630112632.htm New samples of rock and sediment from the depths of the eastern Pacific Ocean may help explain the cause of large, destructive earthquakes similar to the Tohoku Earthquake that struck Japan in mid-March. Nearly 1,500 meters (almost one mile) of core collected from the ocean floor near the coast of Costa Rica reveal detailed records of approximately two million years of tectonic activity along a seismic plate boundary. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110630112632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110629091644.htm Small scale convection at the base of the Pacific plate has been simulated in a model of mantle plume dynamics, enabling researchers to explain the complex set of observations at the Hawaiian hotspot, according to a new study. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110629091644.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627095757.htm Southern California's Salton Sea, once a large natural lake fed by the Colorado River, may play an important role in the earthquake cycle of the southern San Andreas Fault and may have triggered large earthquakes in the past. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:57:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627095757.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622162320.htm Geoscientists have discovered an unusual geological formation that helps explain how an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004 spawned the deadliest tsunami in recorded history. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622162320.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110609083222.htm In the aftermath of the London bombings mobile phones and radios stopped working making the already tricky rescue operation even more difficult. Now experts have developed a solution to ensure breakdowns in communication are a thing of the past for emergency workers responding to disasters. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110609083222.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110603102740.htm When earthquake, tsunami, tornado or flood strike, among the most vulnerable group are the elderly. Researchers in New Zealand suggest that emergency response plans must take into account the age-related needs of adults with regards to the personal and social resources they have available. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110603102740.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110603102738.htm An unusual signal detected by the seismic monitoring station at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's research facility on Barro Colorado Island results from waves in Lake Gatun, the reservoir that forms the Panama Canal channel, scientists report. Understanding seismic background signals leads to improved earthquake and tsunami detection in the Caribbean region where 100 tsunamis have been reported in the past 500 years. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110603102738.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110525131718.htm Japan's recent magnitude 9.0 earthquake, which triggered a devastating tsunami, relieved stress along part of the quake fault but also has contributed to the build up of stress in other areas, putting some of the country at risk for up to years of sizeable aftershocks and perhaps new main shocks, scientists say. Wed, 25 May 2011 13:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110525131718.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110524094504.htm The March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan were generated on a fault that didn't rupture the usual way, according to researchers. The rupture initially shot westward, then slowed and began rupturing rapidly eastward. The "flip-flop" fault motion first shook Honshu violently, then deformed seafloor sediments on the fault plane with such force that they triggered the huge tsunami. What researchers don't know is whether comparable faults could behave in a similar fashion. Tue, 24 May 2011 09:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110524094504.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110522141545.htm Scientists find that in an unfelt, weeks-long seismic phenomenon called episodic tremor and slip, the tremor can suddenly reverse direction and travel back through areas of the fault that it had ruptured in preceding days. Sun, 22 May 2011 14:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110522141545.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110519141622.htm When the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake and resulting tsunami struck off the northeast coast of Japan on March 11, they caused widespread destruction and death. Using observations from a dense regional geodetic network (allowing measurements of earth movement to be gathered from GPS satellite data), globally distributed broadband seismographic networks, and open-ocean tsunami data, researchers have begun to construct numerous models that describe how the earth moved that day. Thu, 19 May 2011 14:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110519141622.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110518131421.htm The inner core of the Earth is simultaneously melting and freezing due to circulation of heat in the overlying rocky mantle, according to new research. Wed, 18 May 2011 13:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110518131421.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110508134937.htm The region east of the central Andes Mountains has the potential for larger scale earthquakes than previously expected. Previous research had set the maximum expected earthquake size to be magnitude 7.5, based on the relatively quiet history of seismicity in that area. This new study contradicts that limit and instead suggests that the region could see quakes with magnitudes 8.7 to 8.9. Sun, 08 May 2011 13:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110508134937.htm