Rubber Duckies Help Scientists Study Glacier

Who ever said rubber duckies couldn’t be useful? A U.S. rocket scientist has decided to use them in order to find out why glaciers speed up in the summer in their “march to sea.” Scientist Alberto Behar of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in California currently creates robotic rovers. He and other scientists hope this experiment will help figure out what’s been going on inside “the fastest-moving Greenland glacier.” (Deborah Zabarenko, Reuters)

Behar and a small team have placed 90 rubber ducks inside the glacier, relying on someone finding them if they emerge in Baffin Bay. The Jakobshavn Glacier is thought to have been the source of the iceberg that sank the Titanic back in 1912. Researchers have been focusing on it because it discharges almost 7 percent of all ice coming off Greenland. And as global warming occurs, its “melting ice sheet” could make oceans rise at a massive rate this century.

“It’s a beautiful place to visit,’ Behar said. “You can watch these icebergs continuously march across and fall into the ocean.” But what he can’t see is “how melting water moves through the ice.” Behar added that it’s understood now what causes the glaciers to surge during the summer season. Some believe the summer sun melts ice on the top glacial surface, creating pools of water. These pools carry water all the way to the underside of the glacier, where it “acts as a lubricant to speed up the movement of the ice toward the coast.” (Reuters) But since it can’t be seen, scientists are clueless as to what actually occurs.

This is where the rubber ducks come in, along with a probe loaded with a GPS device and instruments that can decipher the glacier’s interior. Back in August, Behar flew over a place on the glacier by helicopter and his team lowered the probe into one of its pools by rope. At this time they also placed the rubber duck figures, labeled with the words “science experiment” and “reward” in three different languages, along with a contact email address.

If and when they are found, scientists will know where the ducks ended up. The probe could supply further information by gauging specific pressure and temperature changes, including the direction of the glaciers migration thanks to that handy GPS. But so far, scientists haven’t heard from anyone. Behar admits it could take some time until anyone finds what they planted since the land out there is so remote.

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Green Jobs Re-Shaping The Economy

A new report from the United Nations says efforts to curb global warming are resulting in the creation of millions of new jobs around the world. The same efforts however, also put many current jobs at risk. Both are signs of a slowly evolving, new global economy.

"Imagine for a moment if some of the stimulus packages that are now being developed could be targeted towards not maintaining and sustaining the old economy of the 20th century but investing in the new economy of the 21st century," said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

To say much of the world is experiencing something of a "green revolution" is an understatement. Older renewable energy technology that incorporates solar and wind power continues to grow and develop, and hydrogen fuel cells, turning waste to energy, and various forms of biofuels continue to sprout new companies at an astounding rate. Untill, or even if a few selected renewable sources dominate the market (like oil already has) the room for growth seems virtually limitless at this point.

The UN Report entitled, "Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable Low-Carbon World," implies that the new greener economy will naturally evolve as the climate becomes warmer. Already workers in agriculture and tourism are experiencing difficulty, and more green jobs are likely to develop as the problem worsens. We are in a similar state as the computer explosion in the 1980s, and the startup internet businesses of the 90s, which are still continuing to expand. Only now the new opportunities are coming from fear of a bleak future.

The report highlights that in China, 600,000 people are already employed in solar thermal making and installing products such as solar water heaters. In South Africa, 25,000 previously unemployed people are now employed in conservation as part of the Working for Water initiative. Countries like Nigeria and India are also seeing exponential growth from emerging biofuels and biomass gas industries.

A greener economy isn't completely ideal at the moment, however. The report warns that current jobs available to the working poor are still scarce, as many of the technology fields require the most up-to-date college training. The jobs that are available, such as in recycling, are often low pay and expose workers to a great deal of hazardous, unhealthy materials.

International Labor Organization Director-General Juan Somavia said, "We need to make sure that green jobs are decent jobs. As the report makes clear, building a low-carbon economy is not only about technology or finances, it's about peoples and societies. It's about a cultural change to a greater environmental consciousness and opportunities for decent work."

"New jobs will be created, others adapted, and some will fade out," he added. "In order to keep the political will and the public support, we will have to put policies in place that have to focus from the beginning on those at the receiving end of this transition."

Just to give an illustration of how big the market is currently, and how rapidly it will grow, the report says environmental products and services will double from $1.37 trillion per year today to $2.47 trillion by 2020.

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Another Use for Stonehenge

Through the years, experts have contemplated the idea of Stonehenge, Britain’s most ancient monument, and why it was there. Some say it was used as a calendar, others say it was a burial ground. Those who tend to think outside the box even claim it could have been used as a middleman between earthlings and aliens. I say it could have been all these things and more.

Since Stonehenge has been around for thousands of years since the days of the Vikings, it has prevailed through centuries of change, both culturally and geographically. The crusades came and went, Pagans did their thing, and it slowly became an obscurity and the enlightenment era enlightened. So why is it so hard to believe that Stonehenge could have been used for many different purposes?

Archaeologists now believe the significant rock formation could have also been used as a pilgrimage for the sick “who believed its stones had healing qualities.” (Reuters) Part of the mystery of Stonehenge has always lied in its bluestones (the smaller stones that form part of the circle) that were transported from the Preseli Hills in Wales to the south of England. Archaeologists from Bournemouth University, revealed Monday they believe these bluestones were used as healing stones. The group conducted a dig on location in April.

“It was the magical qualities of these stones which…transformed the monument and made it a place of pilgrimage for the sick and injured of the Neolithic world,” the team’s report stated. Geoffrey Wainwright, president of the Society of Antiquaries of London and one of the experts leading the team at Stonehenge told BBC radio that a big reason they came to this conclusion “was because a number of the burials around Stonehenge showed signs of trauma and deformity.”

Radio carbon dating puts the construction of the bluestone circles between 2,400 B.C. and 2,200 B.C, a few centuries later than what experts originally anticipated. The team found pieces of bluestone that had been “deliberately broken off” and coupled with pieces of holly, ivy and yew for accompanying rituals.

Tim Darvill of Bournemouth University admits he thinks the stones could have been used for more than one purpose. Both he and Wainwright have written many books and articles on the subject, including Stonehenge: the Biography of a Landscape, written by Darvill.

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52nd London Film Festival Schedule Announced

The British Film Institute’s 52nd Annual London Film Festival has announced its line-up for this year and will premiere 20 new films to the world.



Special screenings will include Steven Soderbergh’s long awaited finished version of Che, starring Benicio Del Toro in a chronicle of Che Guevara’s role in the successful uprising of Cuba, and a “riveting depiction of the realities of the struggle. It will be shown in 2 parts. Other featured films this year will be The Brothers Bloom, directed by Brick filmmaker Rian Johnson, starring Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as brothers who live out their own stories. Woody Allen’s Vicky Christina Barcelona and the Anne Hathaway drama Rachel Getting Married will also be featured in Galas.

Long awaited stage play turned film Frost/Nixon, written and directed by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland) will premiere at this year’s festival, along with the newest edition of bond films Quantum of Solace, starring Mr. Craig for the second time. Easy Virtue, directed by Australian Stephan Elliot, is an adaptation of Noel Coward’s 20’s culture clash between the English and the Americans. Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle (one of Britain’s most well renowned directors) is about a young man from the Bombay slums whose success on India’s ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ changes his life and “reveals his true desire.” (BFI) Oliver Stone’s take on the life of George W. Bush, called W., will also premiere at the festival, starring Josh Brolin as the current U.S. President.


The Other Man, featured at the Hewlett-Packard Gala, stars Laura Linney, Liam Neeson and Antonio Bandaras in a “sophisticated drama capturing the subtle nuances of love, betrayal and forgiveness.” (BFI) Documentary Gala’s include Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson, capturing Thompson’s influence in the journalism industry, directed by Alex Gibney. Johnny Depp, who played Thompson in semi-autobiographical Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, narrates.

The Time Out Special Screening will premiere Hunger, directed and written by Steve McQueen (artist not the actor) whose tale, set in Belfast, takes place during the 1981 IRS Hunger Strike. The film is nominated for the Festival’s Southerland Trophy.

The Festival will take place from the 15-30th of October. To book tickets and find a full listing of this year’s films, visit the BFI website.

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How Do We Remain Objective In Discussing The Election?

When it comes to covering politics in the media, as well all know the goal should always be to remain fair and balanced. It's also crucial for the media to serve as a watchdog for those in positions of power who determine how the rest of us live. With that in mind, each presidential candidate running in this year's election deserves the same amount of scrutiny and healthy skepticism. But how exactly do we remain fair and balanced when discussing the credentials of vice presidential nominees Senator Joseph Biden and Governor Sarah Palin?

For one thing, it would not be unfair to say Palin has less experience than Biden. That is a fact when we compare their times in government offices (all information taken from Wikipedia.com, which has no doubt been scrutinized by the candidates themselves by now):

Joe Biden became a senator in 1973 at the minimum age of 30, and in his time has served as a member on the Foreign Relations Committee and worked on resolutions regarding the Yugoslav wars and Iraq War. Over thirty years in government has allowed him to serve time as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well help lead the creation of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, along with the Violence Against Women Act.

Sarah Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska city council from 1992 to 1996, and then won two terms as mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002. She also chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. Elected governor of Alaska in 2006, she was then chosen as the Republican vice presidential candidate two years later.

Based on this information, a journalist would not be unfair to say Biden has more experience than Palin working within both local and federal levels of government. The Republicans may denounce a journalist for doing so right now, claiming "liberal bias" towards such a statement, but as the record shows this would be the truth.

Truth is going to be the hardest thing we find as the election intensifies this fall, and it would be a shame for us to lose clarity of our sight under some guise of being "fair and balanced." We cannot merely put all faults between the candidates on the same level when they don't deserve to be. Our goal is to find the truth. I'm not saying, "Don't route for Palin because she has less experience," nor do I believe in supporting Biden merely because he has more experience. But when debating these two VP nominees, strengthen your arguments in acknowledging the facts and realizing the truth.

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Nigerian 'Oil War' Persists

Nigerian armed militants have recently declared an “oil war” in the south of the country. Yesterday the group claimed to have “blown up a major pipeline in their latest attack on oil installations in the region.” (Agence France-Presse)

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it blew up a pipeline thought to be operated by Royal Dutch Shell and Italian company Agip and made a statement about their activities, claiming the bombs were planted at 9:30 am at Rumuekpe, in Rivers state. MEND is the most powerful of groups operating in the Nigerian Delta area.

A couple hours before the attacks, MEND claims they worked with a recent ally, the NDVF, to destroy Royal Dutch Shell in Africa’s main producing region. “The rebels moved in with speed boats, dynamite and hand grenades in their attack on the Orubiri flow station,” the army said. This reportedly happened around 10 pm Tuesday. This attack was the third on a Shell in 48 hours. US Chevron has also been sensitive to recent vandalism and demolition.

MEND claims they killed all the soldiers on guard at the Orubiri facility and took their weapons, but the army denies such proclamations, saying, “None of the 10 naval personnel or guards on duty died or sustained injuries.” The group warned the soldiers and oil workers to abandon the oil properties, including deep offshore. They are calling their latest offense “Hurricane Barbarossa.” The group attacked Shell’s flagship back in June and have affected pipelines offshore.

Lieutenant-Colonel Rabe Abubaker, spokesman of the special military unit policing two other neighboring oil states of Bayelsa and Delta, has warned the group that any attacks on these oil facilities will follow with “grave consequences.” He added that the unit “will not fold its hands and watch the senseless destruction of national economic assets” committed by unpatriotic civilians.

But MEND says they’re fighting for the people to get a greater share of their large oil revenues. The group has also taken many hostages and just 2 were seized only last week. This oil war has been going on since 2006 and shows no signs of stopping.

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The Northern Lights

If you’re on the lookout for a unique winter holiday adventure, why not go in search of the majestic and otherworldly Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. The large swivels and curtains of colorful light can only be found in the harshest of weather, but if you’re brave enough to stand the cold, this astronomical phenomenon will be more than worth it.

What exactly are the Northern Lights you might ask? There’s still some mystery attached but scientists generally believe the lights occur when large numbers of electrically charged particles (electrons) “stream in towards the Earth along its magnetic field and collide with the highest air particles” at high speed. (tgo.uit.no) When the air lights up the sky, the lights have been compared to a fluorescent light tube, filled with yellows, greens and whites. A violet edge of the aurora is from the nitrogen filling the sky.

Back in the day, the Denes and other hunting civilizations used the Northern Lights to make their way through forests in the dark. They also read the lights as good or bad omens, considering unusual patterns or colors within the aurora. Many tribes and hunters believed that the lights were attracted to noise and would change or dance if whistled at.

In order to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights for yourself, your best bet is to head to the polar regions, though some have rarely seen them in other cold places such as Canada and Siberia. The most frequent occurrences are “centered on the magnetic north pole.” (Truls Lynne Hansen, tgo.uit.no) If you stand directly under a belt of radius 2500 km, which is considered an aural zone, you’re most likely in for a treat. The zone stretches over northern Scandinavia to the southern tip of Greenland and continuing over northern Canada and Alaska, along the northern coast of Siberia. The greatest possible odds would have to be in the Norwegian counties of Troms and Finmark. Similar Southern Lights can be seen from Antarctica, Tasmania or southern New Zealand.

Both Northern and Southern Lights occur side by side each other, creating a mirror effect. Sightings are quite rare, however, so you must plan your trip carefully, guided by scientific predictions. A good site to start with is Today’s Space Weather, which will provide on the goings on edging the Earth’s atmosphere for the next few days.

Northern and Southern Lights are usually spotted only a few times a month in Toms and Finmark. If you’re game enough to brave even harsher weather north of the auroral zone, light sightings in Spitzbergen and north Norway are a very common event. The sky should be pitch black and dry in order to improve chances of spotting them.

So pack twenty layers or so of clothing and head to the poles this winter holiday in search of the beautiful world wonder people have been in awe of for centuries.

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Mythical Unicorn Photographed on Film for First Time

The okapi is an African animal that once believed to be the mythical unicorn, due to its elusive nature. But now the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has reported that they have captured the African creature in the wild, on film, for the first time.

The ZSL and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) set camera traps to get a glimpse of the okapi in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The photographs have dispelled worries that the species had become extinct as a casualty of the civil war.

The photographs also revealed previously unknown okapi population on the east side of the river. The creatures were last spotted in the Virunga National Park nearly 50 years ago on the west bank of the Semliki River.

Dr Noelle Kumpel, ZSL's Bushmeat and Forests Conservation Programme Manager, said: "To have captured the first-ever photographs of such a charismatic creature is amazing, and particularly special for ZSL given that the species was originally described here over a century ago.

"Okapi are very shy and rare animals, which is why conventional surveys only tend to record droppings and other signs of their presence."

Thierry Lusenge, a member of ZSL's Democratic Republic of Congo survey team, said: "The photographs clearly show the stripes on their rear, which act like unique fingerprints.

"We have already identified three individuals, and further survey work will enable us to estimate population numbers and distribution in and around the park, which is a critical first step in targeting conservation efforts."

The okapi have a black, giraffe-like tongue and zebra-like stripes on their behind. ZSL warns that okapi, including the newly found population are under threat of poachers. Okapi meat, which is likely from one of the Virunga Park populations, is on sale in a nearby town. ZSL warned that if hunting continues at the current rate, okapi could become extinct in the park within a few years.

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New Afghan Reality Show Creates Business

A new reality TV show has begun airing in Afghanistan for the purpose of encouraging its citizens to start their own enterprises. The show, “Fikr wa Talash” (translated as “Dream and Achieve”) is based on the British “Dragon’s Den” series where contestants pitch their business ideas to a panel of loaded tycoons looking to invest their money in a fresh entrepreneurial thought.

The program is merely the latest in a line of reality television shows that have become quite popular in the Middle Eastern country. This particular show is aimed to be “more than entertainment,” however. It is suspected to help the country’s economy become more self-reliant. After decades of war have thrashed the country’s infrastructure, Afghanistan has become one of the world’s poorest countries, despite billions of dollars in aid money since 2001. At present, the country relies 90 percent on aid for its total budget. Unemployment is around 40 percent, and 80 percent of Afghanistan’s labor force is employed in agriculture.

“Small and medium-sized businesses, which are by far the largest employer, be it small self-employed farmers selling a surplus or a shop-keeper, trader…are the key to achieving such self-reliance,” said David Elliot, a development consultant for the program.

The show combines business savvy, financial planning, marketing, and competitive strategy--all of which a successful candidate must have to make a deal with the judges. It’s first season ended last month with the final contestant, Faizulhaq Moshkani, winning 20,000 dollars to use towards his plastic recycling business.

Moshkani shut down his factory due to the high cost of fuel to power generators. The prize money will allow him to “move the business to Kabul where he plans to build a mini hydroelectric plant to power the new recycling factory.” (Reuters) The program airs on Tolo TV, the most popular channel in Afghanistan, which also airs Afghan Star. (National version of American Idol)

In the past, Afghan broadcasting has been partially banned by the Taliban, and women have had little to no rights for over 30 years. The show’s five contestants included an ex-warlord who had “laid down his guns to start up a diary.” When the contestant walked in, three women sat in front of cameras asking him questions. Mariam Al Ahmadi, a 25-year old mother of five, won the runner up money of 10,000 dollars. She can now make her fresh produce business bigger. Women who appear on the program still wear their veil in regards to their Muslim religion. “Every Afghan woman can work under Islamic law,” Mariam says, so they are not looked down upon for appearing on such a show.

Because of the show’s balance between modern and traditional worlds, the show’s producers believe it could quite possibly change the Afghan community’s outlook. Tolo is working on a second season and also plans to track the winners of this season’s progress.


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Ranchita Rocks Benefit Concert

Hello Again Friends,

The WeEarth Team is gearing up for another fun filled weekend with Music, Art, and Activism! This weekend our family will be going down to Ranchita Rocks just outside of San Diego to raise awareness about the power link they are trying to put up through the middle of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

Ranchita will be rocking with artists such as Yonder Mountain String Band, Bassnectar, Particle, Melvin Seals & JGB, On The One, Delta Nove, Cubensis, and many more.

Come out and show your support for the Beautiful Anza Borrego Desert!

Hope to see you there!

Gratefully,

The WeEarth Family

CG Company Provides Eerily Life-Like Facial Animation

Special effects are about to to reach a pinnacle in realism for Hollywood movies. Image Metrics, a huge company in the realm of facial animation, just created the most photo-realistic computer-generated (CG) face yet known.

At the Siggraph Expo in Los Angeles, they recently demonstrated an animation of actress Emily O'Brien that has entertainment industry types in a joyous uproar. The video, available here, depicts a short a video clip of O'Brien sitting and engaging in a dialogue that, in my opinion, looks just like an HD image of the real deal.

According to an Image Works press release, the animation was created with a patented high-resolution image scanning process:

This newest process from the ICT Graphics Lab places the actor inside a sphere of LED lights, illuminating the talent with a set of polarized spherical gradient illumination patterns while a pair of high-resolution digital cameras takes around 15 photographs in under three seconds.

These patterns allow the shine of the skin to be photographed independently from the main skin tone so that precise colors and characteristics can be calculated at hundreds of measurements per square millimeter. The resulting CG models provide unprecedented detail of natural facial expressions - down to skin pores and fine wrinkles - with perfectly aligned shading information that allows photo-real faces to be rendered under any illumination and viewpoint with standard rendering packages.

David Barton, Image Metrics' producer said, "Out goal was to create a completely convincing, animated computer-generated face...Given the caliber of creative work and talent in our industry, it was a challenging goal, but one we were confident we could accomplish..." Currently ICT's scanning method is the only one capable of acquiring such high-definition images.

Expect James Cameron, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg to make some jaw-dropping films in the coming years.

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Politician/Dolphin Activist Beaten By Mysterious Thugs

Lawrence Makili, City Councilor of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, is current recuperating after fending himself off from eight unknown assailants. Makili is an outspoken dolphin activist who has tried to stop illegal trafficking of the creatures for several years now.

He was abducted from his home at about 8:30 PM this past Tuesday. The thugs arrived in two cars and drove him a few kilometers out of town where he was beaten with the aim to kill. Makili fought back and escaped, but not unscatched, receiving a broken right arm, fractured ribs, fractured facial bone, and several other injuries.

The identities and motivations of the attackers are still unknown, but most likely pertain to Maliki's work with dolphins. Last year Maliki hit a nerve with non-supporters by tying dolphin protection with economic issues in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Times quoted him: "There are huge implications if these dolphins are allowed to leave the country...In fact, the ban on the export of dolphins has not been lifted, so it would also be illegal." He also warned, "that if we allow these dolphins to be exported, traditional trading partners such as the EU may ban the importation of our tuna."

Along with carefully monitoring the tuna industry on behalf of Earth Island Institute, he is also an active campaigner to protect forests. Despite growing hostility by his opponents, he plans to continue his work once his injuries are healed.


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New Afghan Reality Show Creates Business

A new reality TV show has begun airing in Afghanistan for the purpose of encouraging its citizens to start their own enterprises. The show, “Fikr wa Talash” (translated as “Dream and Achieve”) is based on the British “Dragon’s Den” series where contestants pitch their business ideas to a panel of loaded tycoons looking to invest their money in a fresh entrepreneurial thought.

The program is merely the latest in a line of reality television shows that have become quite popular in the Middle Eastern country. This particular show is aimed to be “more than entertainment,” however. It is suspected to help the country’s economy become more self-reliant. After decades of war have thrashed the country’s infrastructure, Afghanistan has become one of the world’s poorest countries, despite billions of dollars in aid money since 2001. At present, the country relies 90 percent on aid for its total budget. Unemployment is around 40 percent, and 80 percent of Afghanistan’s labor force is employed in agriculture.

“Small and medium-sized businesses, which are by far the largest employer, be it small self-employed farmers selling a surplus or a shop-keeper, trader…are the key to achieving such self-reliance,” said David Elliot, a development consultant for the program.

The show combines business savvy, financial planning, marketing, and competitive strategy--all of which a successful candidate must have to make a deal with the judges. It’s first season ended last month with the final contestant, Faizulhaq Moshkani, winning 20,000 dollars to use towards his plastic recycling business.

Moshkani shut down his factory due to the high cost of fuel to power generators. The prize money will allow him to “move the business to Kabul where he plans to build a mini hydroelectric plant to power the new recycling factory.” (Reuters) The program airs on Tolo TV, the most popular channel in Afghanistan, which also airs Afghan Star. (National version of American Idol)

In the past, Afghan broadcasting has been partially banned by the Taliban, and women have had little to no rights for over 30 years. The show’s five contestants included an ex-warlord who had “laid down his guns to start up a diary.” When the contestant walked in, three women sat in front of cameras asking him questions. Mariam Al Ahmadi, a 25-year old mother of five, won the runner up money of 10,000 dollars. She can now make her fresh produce business bigger. Women who appear on the program still wear their veil in regards to their Muslim religion. “Every Afghan woman can work under Islamic law,” Mariam says, so they are not looked down upon for appearing on such a show.

Because of the show’s balance between modern and traditional worlds, the show’s producers believe it could quite possibly change the Afghan community’s outlook. Tolo is working on a second season and also plans to track the winners of this season’s progress.

Power To The Peaceful Music Festival

Hello Again Friends,

All of us here at WeEarth are excited to announce that we will be attending the 10th Annual Power To The Peaceful Music Festival in Golden Gate Park this weekend. We feel honored to take part in this event to help promote a peaceful and sustainable future for all.

We hope to see some of our Blogger family there =)

If your coming out to this awesome festival please come by our booth for free heady vibes, smiles, and hugs =)

We will also be encouraging a sustainable future by selling our environmentally friendly apparel and accessories!

Hope to see you there!

Gratefully,

The WeEarth Family

A New York Earthquake?

Could an earthquake hit New York City? Recent analysis by scientists proves the fear is real. A study conducted by Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Observatory revealed many small faults believed to be inactive, which could eventually contribute to a “major, disastrous earthquake,” reports Jim Fitzgerald of the Associated Press.

Though most earthquakes happen out west in states like California, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, recent studies point to the island metropolis as a possibility. The study also found that a “line of seismic activity comes within two miles of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, about 25 miles north of New York City.”

Studies suggest that Indian Point is at an “intersection of faults.” The city doesn’t have a single great fault like the San Andreas fault in California, instead, Columbia scientist Leonardo Seeber pointed out, the east coast’s faults are separated within minor and subtle faults, which can “contribute to the severity of an earthquake.” This is because one fault can jump to another.

Though an earthquake of magnitude 7 happens in the area around once every 3,400 years, researchers are clueless as to when the last one hit. Because of this uncertainty, and because of the hundreds of buildings on the island, as well as the American financial market, many lives and billions of dollars are at risk. The study, which has been published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, analyzed 383 known earthquakes over the past 330 years “in or near New York City.” The most effective were in 1737, 1783 and 1884. The report reveals there is a seismic zone running west from the southwest tip of Connecticut and “intersecting with the large, well-known Ramapo fault near Indian Point.”

Lynn Sykes, the lead author of the report, admits the risks are greater than he originally thought, especially because of the fact that there are nuclear plants nearby. But others consider the findings “purely circumstantial” and speculative. It is unclear by report standards to tell if further investigation will follow these findings.

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