August 28. 2011

The biggest recorded earthquake was a 9.5 on the Richter scale with an epicenter in Chile in 1960, thus making it over 1000 times stronger than the one felt in central Virginia on August 23, 2011.  For more Virginia earthquake info, check out Earthquakes in Virginia

August 27, 2011

Earthquakes on the East Coast travel farther and can do more damage further from the epicenter than their stronger West Coast counterparts because the underlying bedrock is pretty well-connected (like a concrete slab) while in the West, underlying topography is chopped-up (like a brick patio) causing the energy of a quake to dissipated closer to the epicenter.

August 26, 2011

The biggest recorded earthquake in Virginia (about a 5.8 on the Richter scale) was on May 31, 1897, in Pearisburg, the county seat of Giles County.

August 25, 2011

In earthquakes above 4.5 on the Richter scale, some buildings begin to fall.

August 24, 2011

Virginia is classified as a "moderate" seismic risk, and has a 10-20% chance to experience a 4.75 quake every century or so.

August 23, 2011

Peppers are spicy so that birds (who can't taste spice) and not mammals will eat them and carry their seeds farther than mammals would be able to.

August 22, 2011

In the final two months of pregnancy, a fetus can distinguish differences in tone and rhythm of voices, particularly the mother's.