These “clockwork” earthquakes puzzled scientists for decades — new Indiana University study explains why
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-May-2026 06:15 ET (18-May-2026 10:15 GMT/UTC)
For decades, scientists have tracked a strange pattern deep beneath the Pacific Ocean: a fault line that produces nearly identical earthquakes every few years, almost like clockwork — something that’s rarely seen in nature. New research published in Science and led by Indiana University seismologist Jianhua Gong finally explains why.
As densely populated coastal communities struggle to keep up with rising sea levels, new research reveals a way to predict how river deltas build land and protect coastal regions from encroaching oceans. This insight will help engineers and policymakers estimate how much new land can be created or maintained when human intervention is used to redirect river channels, making these efforts more effective for coastal restoration and flood protection.