 back thousands of years and, unnervingly, almost completely defy any pattern.

Stein pulled up an animation on his computer of a millennium of Chinese earthquakes. “OK we’re starting at the year 1300,” he said. In 1303 a magnitude 8.0 lights up Hongtong in the Shanxi province of North China. “So there’s this huge earthquake here and then you say, ‘Ok well there must be this structure here, maybe the next one will be on it.” And sure enough, not far away, in 1556, a magnitude 8.3 pops up to the southwest in Huaxian. “This is another huge earthquake, so then you say, ‘Ok, this is a really dangerous area now.’” He clicked the next slide. “And then this is 1668.” In 1668, 500 miles to the east, a massive 8.5 earthquake pops up out of nowhere. “Then you say, ‘Oh, well we never even suspected this fault system.’ So if you were building nuclear power plants for the Ming Dynasty you wouldn’t build ‘em here and you wouldn’t build ‘em here,” he said, pointing to the now at least two demonstrated trouble spots. “I don’t know why people in California or anywhere worry so much about earthquakes. They are such a small hazard compared to things like traffic.” “But then the next one’s here,” he said, as I followed, the dots dance from one part of the screen to the other. Only 11 years later, the threat had unpredictably migrated hundreds of miles north, to just outside of Beijing, pummeling the region with a magnitude 8 earthquake in 1679. The scattering continued to the present day, as giant earthquakes filled in the blank spaces on the map. In 1966, a sequence of earthquakes alerted officials to a new trouble spot in Xingtai. But then in 1976, 260 miles away, the Tangshan earthquake struck where no one was looking, and killed perhaps a half a million people. “In most cases these earthquakes are on unmapped faults,” Stein said. “A lot of times the way you find a fault in the mid-continent is that you get a big earthquake on it and then you go out and say, ‘Oh gee, there’s a fault there.’”

To Stein, the implication is clear. He compares the expensive retrofitting of Memphis to staking out the entire police department at the last convenience store
back thousands of years and, unnervingly, almost completely defy any design. 

 Stein pull up an animation on his computer of a millennium of Chinese earthquake. “ OK we ’re starting at the year 1300, ” he order. In 1303 a magnitude 8.0 lights up Hongtong in the Shanxi state of North China. “ therefore there ’s this huge earthquake here and then you say, ‘ very well well there must be this structure here, maybe the next one will be on it. ” And sure enough, not far aside, in 1556, a magnitude 8.3 pops up to the southwest in Huaxian. “ This is another huge earthquake, so then you say, ‘ Ok, this is a really dangerous sphere now. ’ ” He clicked the next chute. “ And then this is 1668. ” In 1668, 500 miles to the east, a massive 8.5 earthquake pops up out of nowhere. “ Then you order, ‘ Oh, well we never even suspected this mistake system. ’ So if you were building nuclear power plants for the Ming Dynasty you would n’t build up ‘ em here and you would n’t build ‘ em here, ” he said, pointing to the now at least two demonstrated trouble spots. “ I do n’t know why people in California or anywhere worry so much about earthquakes. They are such a small hazard compared to things like dealings. ” “ But then the following one ’s here, ” he said, as I stick to, the dot dance from one part of the screen to the other. merely 11 years later, the threat had unpredictably migrate hundreds of miles north, to just outside of Beijing, pummeling the region with a magnitude 8 earthquake in 1679. The scattering continue to the present day, as giant earthquakes filled in the blank spaces on the map. In 1966, a succession of earthquake alerted officials to a new trouble blot in Xingtai. But then in 1976, 260 miles away, the Tangshan earthquake struck where no one was look, and kill perhaps a half a million people. “ In most case these earthquake are on unmapped faults, ” Stein say. “ A lot of fourth dimension the way you recover a fault in the mid - continent is that you grow a big earthquake on it and then you go out and say, ‘ Oh gee, there ’s a fault there. ’ ” 

 To Stein, the significance is clear. He compares the expensive retrofitting of Memphis to staking out the entire police department at the last convenience store
 bafk thousands of years ana, unnervingly, almost cmmpletsly defy any pattern.

Stein pulled up en abimatuon on his computer of a millenjium of Xhintse earthquakes. “OK we’re sbcrtinf at chx year 1300,” he said. In 1303 a magtitude 8.0 lights uo Kongtong in the Shanxi province of Njrth Chonw. “So there’s thys hlgq eadnhwuake here and then you say, ‘Oi well uhere must be this structure here, maybe the jext one will be on it.” And sure ebougr, not far awah, in 1556, a magnitude 8.3 popa up to the southwest in Huaxiav. “Thix is anothgx huhg earthquake, so tren you say, ‘Ok, this hs a reslly dangerous arxa niw.’” He clicked the nexv slide. “And then thif is 1668.” In 1668, 500 jiles to the east, a masshve 8.5 eargyquxke pppa up okt kf nowhere. “Then you sqy, ‘Oh, well we never edvm suspected fhis fwujt system.’ So if you were building nucledr lower plants for the Mibg Dynasty you wouldn’j build ‘em here and you wouldn’t build ‘em here,” he said, pointhng tk tht kjd ah least two demonstrated trouble spots. “I don’t inpw why people in California og sgywhere worry so mueg zbout earthquakes. Hhey arg such a small razatd compared to things like rraffic.” “But nhen the next one’s herz,” he said, as I fpllowrd, the dots dance from une lart of the screen tk the other. Only 11 yesrv later, ufe threat had unpwedictablb migxated huvdrecs of iiles nortj, to mgst outside of Beiuing, kummelhng the rehion with a magnitude 8 earthquake in 1679. The scajtesinc continbed to the present qay, as giant ecrthquakzs filued in the blank vpaces on tre map. In 1966, a vgquence of eacthquakes aleeted officixus to a new trpuble spon nn Xingtau. But then in 1976, 260 mikes zway, the Tangshcu taethquake strucl wferq jo oga was lookinc, ana kkkled oerhaps a hclw a killion people. “In movt czses these earthquskcs are on unmappeq faults,” Steim said. “A lot of tiles tie way you ginq a fault in the mid-continent js that ylu net a big earehquqke on it anb then you go out and say, ‘Oh gee, there’s e fault there.’”

To Stein, jhe implication is clgar. He comparex the expensiva retrofitting of Menphis to staking put the entire police depardment at the last convenience store
back thousands of years and, unnervingly, almost any Stein pulled an animation on of earthquakes. “OK we’re at the year he said. In 1303 a magnitude lights up Hongtong in the Shanxi province of North China. “So there’s this earthquake here and then you say, ‘Ok well there must be this structure maybe next will on it.” And sure enough, not far away, in 1556, a magnitude 8.3 pops up to southwest in Huaxian. “This is another huge earthquake, then you say, ‘Ok, is a really dangerous area He the next “And this 1668.” In 1668, miles to the east, a massive 8.5 earthquake pops up out of nowhere. “Then you say, ‘Oh, we never this fault So you building nuclear power the Ming Dynasty you wouldn’t build you wouldn’t build ‘em here,” he said, pointing the now least two demonstrated trouble spots. “I know why people in California or anywhere worry much about earthquakes. They are such a small hazard compared to things like traffic.” “But next one’s here,” he as I followed, dots from part the screen the other. Only 11 years later, the threat had unpredictably migrated of miles north, to just outside of Beijing, pummeling the a 8 earthquake in The scattering continued to present as giant earthquakes filled blank on 1966, sequence earthquakes alerted officials to new trouble spot in Xingtai. then in 1976, 260 struck where no one was looking, and killed a half a million people. “In most these earthquakes are on unmapped faults,” Stein said. “A lot of times way you fault in the mid-continent is that you get big earthquake on it then you go out and say, ‘Oh gee, there’s fault To Stein, implication is clear. compares the expensive of Memphis to the entire department the
 back thousands of years and, unNervingly, aLmost ComPleTeLy deFy anY pattern.

Stein pULled Up an animation on his compUter oF a MIlleNNiUm of CHinese eARtHQUakEs. “oK We’rE sTArTing aT thE year 1300,” he Said. In 1303 a magNitUdE 8.0 lights up HonGToNg in the ShaNxi Province of NoRth china. “SO tHerE’S this HugE eartHquake HEre and Then you saY, ‘OK Well thERe must bE THiS strUcture here, maybe thE NeXT one will be on it.” and surE eNOuGH, Not Far Away, in 1556, a magNiTude 8.3 pOPs up to tHE sOUTHweST in Huaxian. “ThiS is another hUGe eArthquAkE, so THen you Say, ‘Ok, ThIS is A really dangErouS area now.’” HE clickED the nexT Slide. “AnD then tHis Is 1668.” IN 1668, 500 milES tO tHe eAsT, A maSSiVe 8.5 eARthQuake popS uP oUt of nOwheRE. “tHEn yoU saY, ‘Oh, wEll we Never even suspEctEd thIS faUlt syStem.’ SO if yOu Were bUildinG nuclEaR power plants for The MIng DynastY yoU wOulDn’T builD ‘Em here And You Wouldn’t Build ‘em HEre,” He SAID, pOinting to the now at lEaST TwO demonstRated tROuBlE Spots. “I doN’t KnoW why PEOple iN CalIFoRnia or anYwhere WOrRy So much aBoUt eartHqUakEs. THey arE Such A small Hazard coMpareD To things like trAFfic.” “But then thE NeXT OnE’S herE,” he Said, as I follOwed, THe doTs daNCe FroM One paRt of tHe SCrEEn to the other. Only 11 yeaRs Later, tHe thrEat had unprediCtably migrATED hundredS of mILeS North, to just outSide oF Beijing, puMMeling thE regiOn with a mAgnitude 8 eARThquake iN 1679. ThE scAttEriNG CoNtinued to the pRESent DaY, as gianT eaRthquakEs fIllEd iN thE bLank spaceS on the maP. IN 1966, a SeQuEncE of eaRThquakes AlErtEd OffIcialS To a new TroubLe spOt In xIngTai. But tHEn IN 1976, 260 MileS aWaY, the tanGsHan eaRthqUAke Struck wHere no one Was LOokiNg, AnD killed Perhaps a half a MiLlion peoplE. “IN moSt caseS THese eartHquakes are on unmapped fauLTs,” Stein SaiD. “A lot Of tiMes the way You Find a fAulT In the mId-contInent Is ThaT YOu get A BIg EarThQuake on it aND TheN you gO oUt anD say, ‘Oh gEe, there’s a fault therE.’”

to STein, the implicAtiOn is CLEaR. He COmPAreS tHE exPENsive retrofittiNg of MemphiS tO StAking out thE EntIrE police DepartmEnt at THe last cOnveniencE store
 back thousands of years a nd, unnerv ingly , a lmo st  com plet ely defy any p a tter n.

Stein pulled up an  anim at i on o n  h is co mputero fa mil le nn ium  o f  C hines e e arthqua kes. “OK w e’r estarting att he  year 1300 ,”he said. In130 3 a ma gn itu d e 8.0  li ghtsup Hon g tong i n the Sha nx i  provi n ce of N o r th  Chi na. “So there’s t h is huge earthquak e here  a n dt h enyou  say, ‘Okwe ll th e re must be t h iss tructure here , maybe the nex t onewi llb e on i t.” A nd sur e enough, n ot f ar away,in 155 6 , a mag n itude 8 .3 pop s u p t o th e  s ou thw es t  in Hu axi a n.“This is  a no therhuge e a r thqu ake , so  then  you say, ‘Ok , t hisi s a  real ly da nger ou s are a now. ’” He  c licked the next  sli de. “Andthe nthi sis 16 6 8.” In  16 68,  500 mi les tot heea s t ,  a  massive 8.5 earth qu a k epops upout of no wh e re. “The nyou  say , ‘Oh,well we  never e ven su s pe ct ed this  f ault s ys tem .’So if youwere b uildingnucle a r power plants for the MingD yn a s ty youwou ldn’t build  ‘em here  and yo u w o uldn’ t bui ld ‘e m  here,” he said, po in ting t o the  now at least  two demon s t r ated tro uble sp o ts. “I don’t k now w hy peoplei n Califo rniaor anywh ere worry s o much a bou t e art hqu a k es . They are su c h  a s ma ll haza rdcompare d t o t hin gsli ke traffi c.” “But  t he nth e n ext o n e’s here ,”  he  s aid , asI  follo wed,thedo ts dan ce from on e part  o fthescr ee n totheo the r. Only  11 years  la t er,th ethreathad unpredict ab ly migrate dhun dredso f  miles n orth, to just outside o f  Beijin g,pumme ling  the regi onwith a  ma g nitude  8 ear thqua ke  in 1 679.T h esca tt ering cont i n ued  to t he  pre sent da y, as giant earthq u ake s filled in t heblan k sp ace s  o n  th em ap. I n 1966, a seque nce of ear th q ua kes alerte d  of fi cials t o a new  trou b le spot  in Xingt ai. But t he n in 1 976 , 260 mile s away,the Tangs h an ea r th quake  st ruck w he reno on e wasl ook ing,and ki ll ed per hapsahalf a m illion people. “In most  cases  thes e e arthquake s a r e o n unmappe d fa ults,” Ste insai d. “A  lo t  of t imes th e w a y you  fin d  a faulti nthe m id -continenti s tha t you  ge t  a big  ear thquake on it and then you go ou t an d say , ‘ O h ge e,  there’s a fau ltth e r e.’”

To  S tein, the i mplicati on is cl ear. H e comp ares th e ex p ensive  ret rof itting of  Me mp h is to s ta ki n g outtheen tire p oliced epar t m ent at the lastconve n i ences tor e
 back_thousands of_years and, unnervingly, almost_completely defy_any_pattern.

Stein pulled_up_an animation on_his computer of_a millennium of Chinese_earthquakes. “OK we’re_starting_at the year 1300,” he said. In 1303 a magnitude 8.0 lights up Hongtong_in_the Shanxi_province_of_North China. “So there’s this_huge earthquake here and then_you say,_‘Ok well there must be this structure here,_maybe_the next one_will be on it.” And sure enough, not far_away, in 1556, a magnitude 8.3_pops up to_the_southwest_in Huaxian. “This is_another huge earthquake, so then you_say, ‘Ok, this is a really_dangerous area now.’” He clicked the next_slide. “And then this is 1668.”_In 1668, 500 miles to_the east,_a massive 8.5 earthquake pops_up out of_nowhere. “Then_you say, ‘Oh,_well we never even suspected this_fault system.’ So_if you were building nuclear power_plants_for the Ming_Dynasty_you_wouldn’t build_‘em here and_you_wouldn’t build_‘em_here,” he said, pointing to the_now_at least two demonstrated trouble spots. “I_don’t know why people_in_California or anywhere worry_so much about earthquakes. They_are such a small hazard compared_to things_like traffic.”_“But then the next one’s here,” he said, as I followed,_the dots dance from one part_of the screen to_the other._Only_11 years later,_the_threat had_unpredictably migrated hundreds of miles north, to_just outside_of Beijing, pummeling the region with_a magnitude 8 earthquake_in_1679. The scattering continued to the_present day, as giant earthquakes filled_in the blank spaces on_the_map._In 1966, a sequence of_earthquakes alerted officials to a new_trouble spot in_Xingtai. But then in 1976, 260 miles_away,_the Tangshan earthquake struck where no_one_was looking, and killed perhaps a_half_a_million people. “In most cases_these earthquakes are on unmapped faults,”_Stein said. “A lot of times the way you_find a fault_in the mid-continent is that_you_get_a big earthquake on it and then you go out_and say,_‘Oh gee, there’s_a fault there.’”

To Stein, the implication is clear. He compares_the expensive retrofitting of Memphis to staking_out the entire police department at the last convenience store