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“A pendulum can absorb an earthquake’s kinetic energy and reduce a building’s movement”
The really ‘big one’ is the subject of legendary author Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Richter 10: a future earthquake that’s predicted to be so powerful it will split California from the rest of the United States, right down the San Andreas fault. The solution? To insert nuclear bombs deep into the crust at key places along the fault line, detonating them in the hope that they will fuse the tectonic plates together. This is a far-fetched idea that has its place in science fiction, though real-world earthquake defences are far more practical – if a lot less sensational. In this issue of How It Works, we delve into the science of earthquake prediction and detection, the terrifying effects of strong earthquakes and how we defend our cities from them. Enjoy!