Tiny, Ancient Marine Organisms Buried in Oceans Could Have Major Impact on the Next Big Earthquake

Researchers have uncovered an intriguing factor that could affect the size of the next big earthquake in the Hikurangi subduction zone in New Zealand. They found that the fossils of tiny, ancient organisms that lived tens of millions of years ago could influence the next seismic event in the area.

According to Interesting Engineering, the Hikurangi subduction zone in New Zealand is the largest plate boundary fault that runs off the east coast of the north island where the Pacific Plate and Australian Plate meet. Experts say that the region could generate massive earthquakes stronger than magnitude eight.