Week of January 5th

The building above was located near the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake in Chile - 8.8 magnitude.  This earthquake destroyed or damaged over 370,000 buildings, and there were over 500 fatalities.  Look at the structure of the building closely - why do you think it was damaged so drastically?

Pictured above is the largest earthquake stability testing facility in the world!  There is a whole lot a shakin' going on!

Pictured below is the Tokyo Sky Tree - the tallest communications tower in the world.  Study its design - what features help to make this tower earthquake stable? 

Links:

Building Earthquake proof houses

List of Largest Earthquakes in the World since 1900

Earthquake Testing Collapse - video

Beat the Quake Game