Recent research led by Satoshi Ide at the University of Tokyo has uncovered that classic theories on earthquake generation may not apply in all scenarios, particularly at low-angle fault planes.
The findings suggest that these fault planes, previously thought to be incapable of generating large earthquakes, can indeed produce significant seismic events.
This study could potentially reshape our understanding of seismic activity in various tectonic settings, highlighting the need to reevaluate existing earthquake models.