Predicting the Unpredictable
Predicting the Unpredictable
Guest: Susan Hough, US Geological Survey Seismologist, and author, "Predicting the Unpredictable: The Tumultuous Science of Earthquake Prediction"
Despite the rumors, it is still impossible to predict most earthquakes with any amount of certainty. You can get some clues from your cat, but then again, cats always act strangely.
Blame the Scientists for Not Predicting an Earthquake?
Guest: David Alexander, Professor of Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College London and Vice-President of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management
On April 6, 2009, an earthquake shook the city of L'Aquila, Italy, and took the lives of 309 people. After the rubble was cleared, five scientists and one government official were charged with comitting manslaughter for not warning the residents of L'Aquila before the earthquake happened. The judge found them guilty and they were all sentenced to six years in prison. Did the judge make the right call, or did he not understand the science at play?