Published: Aug 18, 2026, 20:16 IST | Updated: Aug 18, 2026, 20:16 IST
A string of powerful earthquakes across the world has renewed fears about seismic activity, with magnitude-7 or stronger quakes striking Venezuela, Japan, Mexico, Colombia and Indonesia this summer. At the same time, recent studies show Earth's solid iron inner core has slowed its rotation and is moving backward relative to the planet's surface — a natural cycle that is not considered a sign of an impending global disaster.