In the News
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The Mercury News Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023
What creates a huge earthquake? Scientists investigate phenomenon
TORONTO — Scientists have made further strides toward identifying the key circumstances for catastrophic earthquakes, according to researchers.
What separates a region prone to mild earthquakes compared to those that could see earth-shattering quakes in the future could come down to a principle of friction, according to a new study published last week in the peer-reviewed journal Science.
Friction describes the force of resistance when two materials are sliding against each other. One specific frictional phenomenon that dictates how quickly faults heal after an earthquake may also be key to identifying if they will be at risk of a greater earthquake in the future, according to researchers.