Researchers have revealed an enigmatic braking system for earthquakes located in an underwater fault close to Ecuador, which effectively prevents potentially disastrous ruptures from escalating into mega-quakes. This fault has generated nearly identical magnitude 6 earthquakes at intervals of five to six years for many years. Scientists are now hurrying to find out if comparable braking systems are present in California's San Andreas Fault and the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which poses risks to Seattle and Portland.
