Earthquake Simulations (IMAGE) Brown University Caption Geophysicists Terry Tullis, left, and David Goldsby have shown that rock surfaces sliding past each other in an earthquake can create intense heat but only at the pinpoint places where their surfaces actually touch. Credit Mike Cohea, Brown University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.