2020-04-02_Science_Illustrated

A ship pumps liquid into a fracture between

two plates of Earth’s crust. The pressure from

the liquid triggers an earthquake.

Scientists trigger

earthquake on purpose

In A View to a Kill (1985), Max Zorin plans to detonate bombs
and trigger an earthquake in Silicon Valley. Real earthquakes
are almost impossible to predict and prevent for two reasons: it is
impossible to place measuring equipment as deep in the ground as
the tremor originates, and scientists can only make measurements
after an earthquake as they lack data about underground motion
prior to the earthquake. Now scientists from Columbia University
and Stanford University aim to place equipment on the ocean
floor to make measurements before, during, and after a harmless
earthquake that they themselves will trigger. The scientists will
direct a tube from a ship to a fracture in the Earth’s crust and
pump in liquid. The pressure of the liquid will move the crust,
causing a minor earthquake. Measurements from the quake can
be used to determine how much pressure companies can use
when they pump liquid underground to extract gas.

Causing an earthquake certainly sounds like a Bond
villain’s plan. But scientists are doing just that in
order to get better at predicting real major quakes.

VILLAIN

In A View to a (^) Kill
( (^1985) ), Max Zorin tr
to kill compe ied^
titors with an
earthquake in Silicon
Valley.

ARM INSERTS DRAIN

VERY ACCURATELY

3

With an accuracy of

down to 2mm, the robot

inserts a drain into the

patient’s head. Motions are

adjusted by combining camera

footage and brain scan data.

CAMERA SENDS

SIGNAL TO MOTORS

2 A camera located at theend of the arm continuously

sends pictures to a computer,

which subsequently sends

electrical impulses to motors

in the arm joints.

VILLAIN

In Spectre ( (^2015) ),
Ernst Stavro Blofeld
aimed to destroy James
Bond’s memory (^) by
making a robot drill into
the agent’s brain.
Hose
Accumulated fluid
Robotic arm
Tremor
Seismometer
Liquid
BRA
IN (^) N
AVI
(^) BIO
TEC
HN
OLO
GY
CO.
, (^) LT
D.
(^) AL
STL
AR
PIC
RTU
E (^) LI
BRA
/RY
UN
ITE
D (^) A
TIR
STS
/RI
ATZ
U (^) S
CAN
XPI
KEN
(^) IKE
DA
MA
DSE
N (^) &
(^) SH
UTT
ERS
TOC
K
GEO
RGE
S (^) D
KEE^
LER
E/G
ETT
Y (^) IM
GEA
S