Tsunami: When Disasters Strike
Tsunami and Earthquake Prep
On March 11, a monster 9.0 earthquake struck just off the coast of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. The quake and resulting tsunami killed thousands and caused an ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Popular Mechanics will keep you updated, and bring you some of our best stories about tsunami science, earthquake preparedness, and nuclear energy.
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Modeling Toxic Plumes to Predict Japanese Radiation Exposure
Here's the science modeling where toxic plumes will spread—and how studying accidents in the U.S. has refined those predictions. More…
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How Japan's Superquake Made the Day Shorter
The enormous tsunami-spawning earthquake off Japan not only shifted the planet's axis, it also sped up the Earth's rotation, shortening each day by 1.8 microseconds. More…
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Why Japan's Massive Earthquake Surprised Scientists
While seismologists expected Japan's next big earthquake to strike near Tokyo, today's major tsunami-creating quake happened out at sea and on a different fault line. More…
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The Science Behind Japan's Quake & Aftershocks
The earthquake that struck Japan last week is one of the greatest disasters in Japanese history. The effects have been devastating, but the science of the quake is simple. More…
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Earthquake and Tsunami Resistant Building Tech
A massive earthquake in Japan followed by a tsunami has caused a remarkably low death toll so far. Thanks in part to the country's disaster-proofing systems. More…
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How Do Tsunami Warnings Work?
The Pacific Tsunami Warning System technology was tested again today as the giant quake off Japan spread tsunamis around the region. More…
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How to Prepare Your Home for Earthquakes
Today there is no credible way to predict earthquakes, so when a big one hits a U.S. population center, it will come without warning and it will be devastating. More…
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How to Prepare Your Home for Floods
If a river is rising nearby or a coastal storm surge is imminent, the best advice is to move your valuables to a high floor, then evacuate. More…
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Can Safe Nuclear Power Work for America?
In an Idaho desert lies the epicenter of American nuclear energy research. Among the relics there, the country's energy future is taking shape. More…
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NASA Develops New Way to Accurately Predict Tsunamis
A JPL team of researchers have found a method that might change how the killer waves are predicted. More…
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Is the US Ready for the Next Big Quake?
The nation’s level of earthquake readiness does not always match the risks. More…
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How to Prepare Your Home for Blackouts
Power outages are a routine side effect of other disasters, but sometimes a blackout can be a disaster in itself. More…
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How to Protect Your Home from Fires
When in doubt, escape the building, but if you judge that you can safely mount a fire-extinguisher battle, there are two rules you need to know. More…
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1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake and Tsunami
Lori Dengler, tsunami scientist, explains how a massive earthquake in the middle of the Pacific could make Mount McKinley beachfront property. More…
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10 Worst Disasters of the Last Century
An in-depth look back at the worst disasters to ravage the U.S. over the past 101 years, from the San Francisco Earthquake to Hurricane Katrina. More…
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PM's Guide to Disaster-Proof Your Life
Only 12 percent of Americans have taken adequate steps to prepare for crises. This guide can help protect you before calamity strikes. More…
