No Quake Today

All's quiet, no quake today

For thousands of years it's been widely believed that animals can predict earthquakes. However, there's been little scientific evidence to support that theory...until now.

Animal movements dropped off significantly in the weeks prior to the 7.0 Peruvian earthquake of August, 2011:

Well ahead of the tremor, the traps recorded up to 18 animals a day, but that number began to drop off steeply as the earthquake approached. In the five days immediately before it, the traps snapped just three animals. The park’s fauna, it seems, had stopped moving around.

The leading explanation is that animals can detect electromagnetic signals from faults that are about to rupture.

In any case it can't hurt to head down to the local SPCA and adopt a furry or feathered friend. Like a smoke alarm, a rescue animal can save your life, but unlike a smoke alarm, it will love you back.