{
  "id": 2439381,
  "title": "Thunder + fiber-optic cabling used for seismic imaging",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/thunder-fiber-optic-cabling-used-for-seismic-imaging",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-21T20:26:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/researchers-use-thunderquakes-to-study-structure-of-earths-surface/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Most of our knowledge about the Earth's interior is derived from seismic waves. The speed at which these waves travel varies based on the characteristics of the rocks they pass through, such as solidity, water content, and fracturing. By collecting data from numerous seismic occurrences, scientists can begin to construct a representation of what lies beneath the surface. This data is often obtained from natural events like earthquakes, but in some instances, scientists intentionally generate waves using explosives, enabling targeted imaging without relying on earthquakes. Now, researchers at Penn State propose an alternative method that falls between waiting for an earthquake and triggering one's own seismic event: thunderstorms. The energy from thunderstorms permeates the Earth's upper crust, resulting in what are known as \"thunderquakes.\" However, due to complex physical factors, the resulting seismic signals are highly intricate, making it challenging to discern clear patterns from them. The Penn State team asserts that they have developed a model capable of interpreting this complexity and has utilized it to recreate the topography beneath their university campus.",
  "summary": "Thunderstorms make seismic waves that can be used to find sub-surface features.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica Science",
        "title": "Thunder + fiber-optic cabling used for seismic imaging",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/thunder-fiber-optic-cabling-used-for-seismic-imaging-2439761",
        "published": "2026-08-21T20:26:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}