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Seismologist Explains How To Make An Earthquake Early Warning System With Cats
The notion that animals can somehow sense an incoming earthquake long before humans has been around for centuries. In 373 BC, at the peak of the classical Greek era, a violent earthquake and subsequent tsunami destroyed and submerged the city of Helike.
This city was known, ironically, as a center for worship for Poseidon – the god of the sea and earthquakes – and its loss to the murky depths just might have been the origin story to the legend of Atlantis.
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Image credits: celestelabedz
But there’s another myth associated with this Greek tragedy. Apparently, 5 days before the massive earthquake struck, all the animals fled the city en masse, much to the puzzlement of the local people. Those critters knew what was coming, and got the hell out of there!
Countless reports of animals acting strangely before seismic activity have surfaced ever since, leading people to believe that there really is something to this phenomenon. Some believe that animals feel the Earth vibrate before humans. Others theorize that they can detect electrical changes in the air or even gasses released from the Earth.
Image credits: celestelabedz
However, there is no scientific evidence to back these ideas up. Enter Celeste Labedz, a cryoseismologist from Nebraska, who enjoys introducing complex scientific discoveries to regular people through her interesting and informative tweets.
Celeste has been in the headlines before – she dressed up as “glaciologist Princess Elsa” while out in the field in Alaska to inspire young girls to embrace science.
“I firmly believe that kids should not be taught that girly things and sciencey things are mutually exclusive,” she wrote. “Therefore, I packed a cape with my fieldwork gear just to show what glaciologist Princess Elsa would look like.”
Image credits: celestelabedz
Now, channeling the internet’s love of all things cat, Celeste has gone viral again. This time, she started an entertaining and informative thread about a tongue-in-cheek ‘earthquake early warning system’ – one that employs our furry friends and their superior senses.
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: celestelabedz
Image credits: Maxim Vidavsky
Genius! People were quick to jump on the amusing thread, particularly enthused by Celeste’s punny descriptions (Richt-purr Scale, anyone?), whilst also coming up with their own ideas on the theme.
These are the kind of viral threads we need more of in this world – less “the way this guy destroyed this other guy” stuff, and more bringing science to the masses!
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What do you think? Had you heard of the ‘animals know first’ theory before? Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Did you notice how animals reacted? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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AnalinaBabee18 6 years ago (edited)
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Kenny Kulbiski 6 years ago
I live in an area where earthquakes are very rare, at least before fracking. A few years ago my cat started freaking out. My first reaction was; What the hell's your problem? My second reaction five minutes later was; What the hell was that?
Thomas Ewing 6 years ago
Just before the Northridge quake of '94 in Simi Valley, my cat leaped off my chest, waking me up, and fled out the pet door. 4:30 AM. As I wondered what bothered her, the room began to shake gently, then much harder. I stayed in bed for safety and felt the room lurch back and forth about 12 inches for about 30 seconds. This wasn't my first quake in S. CA., but it was the strongest. My place was messy but undamaged and kitty returned about a day later. I know cats make good earthquake detectors! Good article.
Katchen 6 years ago
I was about a mile from the epicenter in Reseda for the Northridge Earthquake. My grandma and I had stayed up late playing cards and said to each other that the neighborhood dogs were going nuts and we wondered what was up. Oh man did we ever realize what was up!
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Michelle Chevalier 6 years ago
This would be a great advertisement for shelters to use...instead of "adopt a cat" they can say "own your own Early Earthquake Detection System, comes with toy mouse accessory"...they would fly off the shelves...lol
Bob Beltcher 6 years ago
I love stuff like this. You get to let your mind wander way with the knowledge you have and come up with crazy stuff that would technically work. Like, what if you put mini turbines in skyscraper waste water lines? Gravity pulls the water down the plumbing when you use it and would turn the turbine generating a small amount of electricity. Put a bunch in a skyscraper and who knows how much energy you produce. What if every building in NYC had one, how much power would we save?
AnalinaBabee18 6 years ago (edited)
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies... Kenny Kulbiski 6 years ago
I live in an area where earthquakes are very rare, at least before fracking. A few years ago my cat started freaking out. My first reaction was; What the hell's your problem? My second reaction five minutes later was; What the hell was that?
Thomas Ewing 6 years ago
Just before the Northridge quake of '94 in Simi Valley, my cat leaped off my chest, waking me up, and fled out the pet door. 4:30 AM. As I wondered what bothered her, the room began to shake gently, then much harder. I stayed in bed for safety and felt the room lurch back and forth about 12 inches for about 30 seconds. This wasn't my first quake in S. CA., but it was the strongest. My place was messy but undamaged and kitty returned about a day later. I know cats make good earthquake detectors! Good article.
Katchen 6 years ago
I was about a mile from the epicenter in Reseda for the Northridge Earthquake. My grandma and I had stayed up late playing cards and said to each other that the neighborhood dogs were going nuts and we wondered what was up. Oh man did we ever realize what was up!
Load More Replies... Michelle Chevalier 6 years ago
This would be a great advertisement for shelters to use...instead of "adopt a cat" they can say "own your own Early Earthquake Detection System, comes with toy mouse accessory"...they would fly off the shelves...lol
Bob Beltcher 6 years ago
I love stuff like this. You get to let your mind wander way with the knowledge you have and come up with crazy stuff that would technically work. Like, what if you put mini turbines in skyscraper waste water lines? Gravity pulls the water down the plumbing when you use it and would turn the turbine generating a small amount of electricity. Put a bunch in a skyscraper and who knows how much energy you produce. What if every building in NYC had one, how much power would we save?
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