Harvey Specter
04-02-2010, 01:11 AM
British study says toads hopped away from breeding site days before deadly Italian earthquake
31/03/2010 7:53:00 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON - Scientists may have a new ally in the struggle to predict deadly earthquakes - the humble toad.
British researchers have found there was a mass exodus of toads from a breeding site in Italy days before a major tremor.
Researchers from the Open University were studying the impact of lunar patterns on toads when they noticed a sharp decline in numbers. Days later, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit, killing hundreds of people and badly damaging the town of L'Aquila.
The number of pairs at the site fell to zero three days before the quake, according to the study, published Wednesday in the Journal of Zoology.
Lead author Rachel Grant said the findings suggested that toads can detect changes such as the release of gases or charged particles that foretell an earthquake. .
31/03/2010 7:53:00 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON - Scientists may have a new ally in the struggle to predict deadly earthquakes - the humble toad.
British researchers have found there was a mass exodus of toads from a breeding site in Italy days before a major tremor.
Researchers from the Open University were studying the impact of lunar patterns on toads when they noticed a sharp decline in numbers. Days later, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit, killing hundreds of people and badly damaging the town of L'Aquila.
The number of pairs at the site fell to zero three days before the quake, according to the study, published Wednesday in the Journal of Zoology.
Lead author Rachel Grant said the findings suggested that toads can detect changes such as the release of gases or charged particles that foretell an earthquake. .