The Biggest Earthquake Ever—and How the Richter Scale Really Works | Smartest Year Ever (July 6, 2025)

What does the Richter scale actually measure—and what would the most powerful earthquake in recorded history feel like?

In this episode, Gordy breaks down the science of seismic waves, the logarithmic scale that changed the way we understand earthquakes, and the terrifying real-world consequences of Earth’s most violent tectonic shifts. From magnitude vs. energy to why a small number jump means massive differences in destruction, you’ll walk away with a new respect for what those Richter numbers really mean.

Plus: the real story of the largest earthquake ever recorded, how we measure quakes today, and the top seismic danger zones in the U.S.

This is one of those episodes that might just change how you look at the ground beneath your feet.

Sources:

• United States Geological Survey. (2025). Moment Magnitude, Richter Scale – What Are the Different Magnitude Scales, and Why Are There So Many? https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/magnitude-types
  

• United States Geological Survey. (2025). Earthquake Magnitude, Energy Release, and Shaking Intensity. https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/earthquake-magnitude-energy-release-and-shaking-intensity
  

• United States Geological Survey. (2025). 20 Largest Earthquakes in the World Since 1900. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/browse/largest-world.php
  

• Encyclopædia Britannica. (2025). Richter Scale. https://www.britannica.com/science/Richter-scale
  

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