Earth
How Earthquakes Are Measured: Magnitude vs Intensity
Why the Richter scale was retired, what a jump from magnitude 6 to 7 really means, and how your own report of shaking ends up on a USGS map.
Tag: USGS
Earth
Why Volcanoes Erupt and How Scientists Forecast Eruptions
Kilauea pours out glowing lava while Mount St. Helens blew its top off. The difference comes down to gas and how sticky the magma is.
Nature & Animals
Can Animals Sense Earthquakes Before They Happen? The Evidence
Stories of restless dogs and fleeing snakes before earthquakes go back thousands of years. Here is what tagged farm animals, seismology and the USGS actually say.
Earth
Can Earthquakes Be Predicted? What Scientists Can and Cannot Do
Earthquake prediction is still out of reach, but probability maps, aftershock forecasts and the ShakeAlert system already save time and lives. Here is how each works and which popular signs are myths.
Earth
What Is a Supervolcano? Yellowstone, Toba and the Real Odds
Supervolcanoes leave holes tens of kilometers wide, but their giant eruptions are rare. Here is what the term means, where they are and what Yellowstone is more likely to do next.