Earthquake Science and Fiction Collide in Tilt

Emma Pattee's debut novel, titled "Tilt," is featured on the Best Fiction of 2025 list. The narrative imagines a catastrophic earthquake in Portland, exploring the implications and experiences surrounding such a disaster. The novel's premise taps into the growing concerns about natural disasters and their impact on urban environments, particularly in regions prone to seismic activity. In a separate context, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently made significant changes to its online resources regarding climate change. The agency has removed references to fossil fuels, which are widely recognized as the primary driver of global warming. The updated content now focuses solely on natural phenomena, despite scientific consensus indicating that nearly all warming is attributable to human activities. This alteration has drawn criticism from scientists who argue that it misrepresents the causes of climate change. Additionally, recent research has revealed that early Neanderthals were capable of making fire 350,000 years earlier than previously believed. This finding highlights the technological advancements of early humans and their ability to manipulate their environment. The ability to create fire on demand represents a crucial milestone in human evolution, marking a significant development in survival strategies. In another scientific breakthrough, researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have discovered a method to program synthetic molecules to form specific spiral-like structures. This innovation involves embedding instructions directly into the molecular sequence, potentially leading to the creation of new smart materials and molecular devices that can adapt to their surroundings. Such advancements could have far-reaching implications in various fields, including materials science and engineering.