Why wasn’t the Russia mega earthquake as damaging as previous ones?

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A massive 8.8 magnitude mega earthquake off Russia's east coast sent tsunami waves into Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast this week. While more than two million people across the Pacific were ordered to evacuate, there were no immediate reports of any fatalities.

After recent devastating tsunamis like the ones that hit Fukushima in 2011 and the Boxing Day disaster of 2004, we speak to Environmental Seismology lecturer at University College London, Dr Stephen Hicks, to ask why this quake didn’t cause anywhere near the same amount of harm.

After the Lionesses successfully defended their UEFA European Women’s Championship, Marnie Chesterton is joined by Professor of Sports Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, Steve Haake, to looks at the role data analysis and Artificial Intelligence is now playing in football and other sports.

We hear about fascinating new research from primatologist Professor Cat Hobaiter at the University of St Andrews into what we can learn about our evolution by studying how apes eat alcoholic fermented fruit.

And Marnie is joined by technology broadcaster Gareth Mitchell to hear about the week’s brand new scientific discovery news, and for a musical homage to the satirical songwriter and mathematician Tom Lehrer, who died this week at the age of 97.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Clare Salisbury, Dan Welsh, Jonathan Blackwell Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Rory Stewart and I grew up wanting to be a hero and I'm still fascinated by the ideas of heroism.
0:09.0	In my new series, I'm taking in the long sweep of history from Achilles to Zelensky and asking, what is a hero?
0:16.0	Simply doing your job, being a decent human being.
0:20.0	A true hero is someone who just kind of shines by
0:23.1	their own light and that light is to be recognised by others. The long history of heroism
0:27.8	with me, Rory Stewart. Listen on BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. This is the podcast of BBC Inside Science first broadcast on the 31st of July 2025.
0:44.5	Hello, as the streamers settle on the lioness's footballing victory, the science begins in earnest.
0:52.0	Can the data generated at the women's euros predict the next champions?
0:56.8	And we talk scrumping and scrumpy.
0:59.8	Turns out we aren't the only ape that likes a tipple.
1:03.1	And technology journalist Gareth Mitchell is here with me
1:05.9	to bring a rundown of the innovations that could change your life.
1:09.4	Any hints for what you'll be talking about,
1:11.0	Gareth? Yeah, I can give a few hints. There's a little bit about the Airbus A380 and also how
1:17.7	VR can be a little bit clunky, you know, those big VR goggles that we have to wear. That might be
1:23.5	about to change, but maybe in the near future or not say near future. Brilliant. Thanks, Gareth.
1:28.9	First of all, though, the whole Pacific region was on alert this week
1:33.3	after an enormous and rare 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck just off Russia's east coast.
1:40.0	And yet, it hasn't created the devastating tsunamis, like the ones that hit for Kashima in 2011 or the Boxing Day disaster of 2004.
1:50.8	Dr Stephen Hicks is lecturer in environmental seismology at UCL and joins me now for the lowdown.
1:56.9	Welcome to Inside Science, Stephen.
1:58.8	Hi, Marnie.
	...

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