SCIENTISTS have often wondered why so many houses in California remain
standing after an earthquake. But now they think they know why: stucco helps the
buildings stick together. And this weather-resistant coating is very commonly
used in the state.
Researchers at the University of California in San Diego built a simple,
two-storey house—typical of 90 per cent of homes in Southern
California—and placed it on a hydraulic shake table that simulates
earthquakes. The artificial quakes were equivalent to the 1994 Northridge
earthquake near Los Angeles, which registered 6.7 on the Richter scale and
caused damage worth $20 billion.…
