What does “moment magnitude” mean, and how do scientists determine the strength of a rupture in the earth? By Henry Fountain Henry Fountain spent a quarter century covering science for The Times. He retired in 2023. Seismologists register the intensity ...

Earthquakes happen all over the world every single day, with some never felt at all and others destroying entire cities. But what does that measurement actually mean? Earthquakes are measured on a scale up to 10 on the moment magnitude scale, with the ...

Two powerful 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude earthquakes and a series of aftershocks roiled southern Panama Friday afternoon, collapsing buildings near the epicenter and prompting evacuations across the country.