Six Italian Scientists and 1 government employee were sentenced for 6 years in jail for criminal manslaughter charges caused by an earthquake that they failed to accurately predict.

Is it possible to predict the time, epicenter location and magnitude? No, explains Hank. “It’s so hard to study tectonic plates” especially when they’re 100 kilometers thick.

Radon leaks can be good indicators of an earthquake in some cases, but usually they don’t work. Sensors that measure the magnitude of an earthquake have been installed, but a lot of geological assessments don’t support it. While animals are a good example of predicting earthquakes, not all demonstrate the same reaction, and are still undergoing further study.

Sourced: SciShow

Curated: @KatherineNader, an online editor at Arbitrage Magazine, and author of The Deadly Mark. She is a student of Biology, English, and Professional Writing at the University of Toronto.