Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

Science in Action

Science In Action

Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

The BBC brings you all the week's science news.

No Master Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC Afghan Radio

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Science In Action: Devastating earthquakes hit Afghanistan

Magazines & Reviews

Devastating earthquakes hit Afghanistan

12/10/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Science In Action, Devastating earthquakes hit Afghanistan

Herat has not seen an earthquake for almost 1000 years but now, five have come at once.

Herat has not seen an earthquake for almost 1000 years but now, five have come at once. What factors lead to the disaster?

Lying atop a network of fault lines, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes. However, the Herat area has not seen an event for almost 1000 years. As such, it was the least likely area to experience the series of devastating earthquakes and aftershocks which are reported to have killed thousands this week. Afghani seismologist Zekaria Shnizai discusses the factors which led to the disaster. 

After a couple of delays, NASA’s Psyche mission is due to launch this Friday. It will map Psyche, a metal-rich asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Project leader Lindy Elkins-Tanton's excitement for the project is infectious.  

And can deep learning help us predict the next pandemic? Computational Biologist Debora Marks’ new tool, Evescape, can predict the most likely mutations a virus will gain under pressure. This could be a game changer.   


Presenter: Roland Pease  
Producer: Ella Hubber  
Editor: Martin Smith   
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth 


(Image: An Afghan man sits amid the rubble after a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes the city of Herat. Credit: Esmatullah Habibian / Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Science In Action

Devastating earthquakes hit Afghanistan

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service