Earthquakes
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YcBUQjT4WJ58M9ZrTND4gE-320-80.jpg)
Earthquakes are the result of plate tectonics, or shifting plates in the crust of Earth, and quakes occur when the frictional stress of gliding plate boundaries builds and causes failure at a fault line. In an earthquake, elastic strain energy is released and waves radiate, shaking the ground. Scientists can predict where major temblors might occur in a general sense, but research does not yet allow forecasts for specific locations or accurate predictions of timing. Major earthquakes, some generating tsunamis, have leveled entire cities and affected whole countries. Relatively minor earthquakes can also be induced, or caused by human activity, including extraction of minerals from Earth and the collapse of large buildings.
Latest about Earthquakes
![The skyline of Seattle during sunset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Simultaneous rupture of faults triggered massive earthquake in Seattle area 1,100 years ago — and it could happen again
By Harry Baker published
Fossilized tree analysis finds a single massive earthquake may have rocked what is now Seattle around 1,100 years ago rather than several smaller quakes, and that another equally powerful one could hit the city in the future.
![A man stands in the middle of collapsed buildings after the earthquake in Moulay Brahim, Morocco.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PocESv3uQVoCqCxLzh65UM-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Here's why Morocco's quake was so deadly — and what we can do for the next one
By José A. Peláez Montilla published
More than 2,500 people died when a powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco on Sept. 8.
![lava flowing from a central source on a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRqvDtNpeWmEapjwZ25u7e-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Deadly swarm of earthquakes in Japan caused by magma moving through extinct volcano
By Stephanie Pappas published
Over 10,000 earthquakes have hit the Noto Peninsula over the last three years. They are believed to be emanating from an long-dead volcano, with fluids pushing through the collapsed system.
![A crumbled building in the wake of an earthquake](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5AszPgUreZWaKgXsgtnpb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Predicting earthquakes is currently impossible. GPS data could help change that
By Kiley Price published
GPS data can track slight tremors underground that could help predict earthquakes two hours in advance.
![Structure of the Earth's core against a space background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4iAzUd8qwZyMvAKV3bXDLW-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
450-mile-wide solid metal ball forms Earth's innermost core, earthquake waves reveal
By JoAnna Wendel published
Scientists calculated the diameter of Earth's innermost core using earthquake waves that bounced through the planet 'like ping-pong balls.'
![Smoke billows from a fire at the port as people inspect collapsed buildings in Iskenderun, Turkey.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9ASpe9vt33TEUzzErDzRb4-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Why was the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria so deadly?
By Ben Turner published
The Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria was so deadly because the region sits on a boundary between multiple tectonic plates, while soil and building conditions make strong earthquakes more likely to cause damage.
![Khokana village in Kathmandu, Nepal, after a damaging earthquake. Here we see a narrow street filled with rubble and lined with damaged buildings and electrical wires.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VUi48jJogxFHiiEyUZAm4U-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How big is the largest possible earthquake?
By Stephanie Pappas published
The amount of energy released in an earthquake is controlled by how much of the crust breaks. The good news is, we're not likely to see a magnitude 10.
![The Great East Japan Earthquake in Iwate. Here we see the remains of a house amongst a lot of rubble after an earthquake.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WPkQmXVxW9DMXvDgf7S7mh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
The 20 largest recorded earthquakes in history
By Tia Ghose published
A handful of regions around the world regularly unleash terrifyingly large earthquakes. Here are the 20 largest earthquakes on record.
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