Seismology of Turkey's powerful earthquakes

+ 9 scenarios for sustainable aviation US Edition - Today's top story: Turkey-Syria earthquakes: shallow depth of main shocks is a key reason why they've been so devastating [View in browser]( US Edition | 8 February 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The latest reports show the death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Turkey earlier this week is nearing 12,000 people as rescue efforts continue. The Conversation’s global network has been covering the calamity and will continue to in the days ahead. Professor of structural geology Bob Holdsworth explains why the [many reasons this earthquake was so devastating](, including the relatively shallow depth of the main shocks. Earthquake scientist Mark Quigley writes about why building practices in the region, with many buildings made of concrete, [resulted in the collapse of so many buildings](. As the Super Bowl approaches this Sunday, we have been rolling out a [series of articles on gambling](, focusing on the high-growth area of sports betting, which is now legal in more than 30 states. Psychologist Meredith Ginley, who treats and researches gambling addictions, explains why people’s brains are wired to enjoy gambling and [how the spread of new sports betting apps is raising some concerns](. “Sports wagering apps essentially load a casino onto the phone in your pocket. The easy access – along with the novelty and excitement – likely increase the risk of potential harm,” she writes. One term nearly everybody learned in the early days of the pandemic is mRNA vaccine. Even though we may first associate it with COVID-19, researchers have been working for years to use the advantages of this technology to fight a number of diseases. Microbiologist Deborah Fuller from the University of Washington writes about how mRNA vaccines [offer a promising path toward creating a universal flu vaccine]( that would provide protection against all variants of the virus. In the meantime, two seasonal influenza vaccines using mRNA are being tested and could provide a better match for each year’s flu strain, she notes. Also in this week’s science news: - [Why did birds live on after dinosaurs died](? - [How Hurricane Harvey made Galveston Bay water more acidic]( - [Atmospheric rivers are coming to the Arctic more often]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters EPA-EFE/Erdem Sahin [Turkey-Syria earthquakes: shallow depth of main shocks is a key reason why they’ve been so devastating]( Bob Holdsworth, Durham University An earthquake expert explains why the death and devastation have been so terrible in Turkey and Syria You can keep placing new bets throughout the whole game. svetikd/E+ via Getty Images [Sports betting apps’ notifications and leaderboards encourage more and more wagers – a psychologist who treats gambling addictions explains why some people get hooked]( Meredith K. Ginley, East Tennessee State University Sports wagering apps bring in-play betting right to the palm of your hand. Easy, ever-present access can lead to excitement and fun – or problem gambling. Broad protection from a universal flu vaccine could replace seasonal flu shots. Flavio Coelho/Moment via Getty Images [How do you make a universal flu vaccine? A microbiologist explains the challenges, and how mRNA could offer a promising solution]( Deborah Fuller, University of Washington Annual flu vaccines are in a constant race against a rapidly mutating virus that may one day cause the next pandemic. A one-time vaccine protecting against all variants could give humanity a leg up. [As climate change and overuse shrink Lake Powell, the emergent landscape is coming back to life – and posing new challenges]( Daniel Craig McCool, University of Utah Lake Powell’s existential crisis is a unique opportunity to save a treasured landscape. [The future of flight in a net-zero-carbon world: 9 scenarios, lots of sustainable biofuel]( Candelaria Bergero, University of California, Irvine; Steve Davis, University of California, Irvine Airlines are promising net-zero emissions by 2050. To get there, they’re experimenting with used cooking oil, ag waste and corn ethanol in their fuel tanks. But that alone won’t be enough. [Cells routinely self-cannibalize to take out their trash, aiding in survival and disease prevention]( Åsa Gustafsson, University of California, San Diego; Justin Quiles, University of California, San Diego Cells degrade and recycle damaged parts of themselves through a process called autophagy. When this “self-devouring” goes awry, it may promote cancer and neurodegenerative disease. [Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches flocking together benefit from a diversity bonus – so do other animals, including humans]( Todd M. Freeberg, University of Tennessee Scientists are learning that diversity has many perks – whether in multispecies groups of animals or human society. [More lunar missions means more space junk around the Moon – two scientists are building a catalog to track the trash]( Vishnu Reddy, University of Arizona With more than 100 lunar missions planned in coming years, space junk near the Moon could become an issue for humanity. No agency tracks lunar space junk, so two astronomers decided to do it themselves. [Atmospheric rivers are hitting the Arctic more often, and increasingly melting its sea ice]( Pengfei Zhang, Penn State Atmospheric rivers can melt fragile new sea ice. When these storms arrive in waves, the sea ice doesn’t have a chance to recover. - [Hurricane Harvey more than doubled the acidity of Texas’ Galveston Bay, threatening oyster reefs]( Tacey Hicks, Texas A&M University; Kathryn Shamberger, Texas A&M University Climate change is making oceans more acidic globally. Now, scientists are finding that large storms can send pulses of acidic water into bays and estuaries, further stressing fish and shellfish. - [How did birds survive while dinosaurs went extinct?]( Chris Lituma, West Virginia University Birds and dinosaurs lived together for millions of years, but only toothless birds survived the asteroid impact that upended life on Earth. - [ChatGPT is great – you’re just using it wrong]( Jonathan May, University of Southern California ChatGPT and other AI chatbots seem remarkably good at conversations. But you can’t believe anything they say. Sometimes, though, reality isn’t the point. - [Here’s what to do when you encounter people with ‘dark personality traits’ at work]( Cinthia Beccacece Satornino, University of New Hampshire Narcissists, psychopaths and Machiavellians, oh my. These antagonistic personality types can make life hard for the people around them. Here are five tips for how to deal with them at work. - [Biden’s plan for ending the emergency declaration for COVID-19 signals a pivotal point in the pandemic – 4 questions answered]( Amy Lauren Fairchild, The Ohio State University; Marian Moser Jones, The Ohio State University President Joe Biden’s intention to end the national COVID-19 emergency will have long-lasting ripple effects on federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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