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A "Cloaking Device" for Earthquakes

from ScienceNOW Daily News

Researchers say they have found a way to make buildings essentially invisible to earthquakes. If perfected, the technique could protect skyscrapers and homes alike from even the most devastating temblors.

Earthquakes, sunlight, and radio all share a common factor: They propagate via waves. The only difference is that earthquake waves are so powerful--their energy can equal several nuclear bombs -- that they literally shake apart rigid structures.

Researchers ... have now developed a barrier that keeps buildings from feeling these waves. They took a cue from stealth aircraft, which employ combinations of specially shaped and fabricated materials that absorb radar signals and deflect them off course. For earthquakes, the concept is the same: Using computers, the team modeled a device composed of layered, concentric rings of plastic, copper, and four other materials of varying flexibility and stiffness -- all designed to harmlessly deflect earthquake waves.