For years, earthquake researchers have been puzzled by a strange underwater fault in the Pacific Ocean that behaves unlike almost any other on Earth. Deep beneath the sea west of Ecuador, the same powerful earthquakes have been repeating again and again with almost identical timing and strength. Scientists now believe they finally know why.
A new study published in Science says hidden “barrier zones” buried inside the fault are acting like natural brakes, preventing the earthquakes from becoming even larger and more destructive, as per a report by Science Daily.
