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February 18, 2022

THE MATTERHORN WALTZ!

Standing at an elevation of 14,692 feet, Switzerland's towering The Matterhorn appears immovable. But an international team of researchers discovered it sways back and forth, about once every two seconds. This perpetual motion creates a monumental waltz caused by seismic energy deep in the earth, created by earthquakes and the world's oceans. The study could assist geologists in predicting rock damage and dangerous mountain landslides triggered by earthquakes. Learn more on NSF's "The Discovery Files."

Credit: National Science Foundation/University of Utah


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