Did Taylor Swift fans cause an earthquake? ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

In this episode of 6 Minute English, hosts Phil and Georgie discuss the phenomenon of 'Swiftquake,' where Taylor Swift's concert in Edinburgh created seismic activity due to the energetic dancing of 73,000 fans. Seismologists monitored ground motion, measuring a flex of 23 nanometers, which, while impressive, does not qualify as an earthquake. The conversation also touches on a previous concert by the band Madness that caused similar seismic effects. Key vocabulary is introduced, including phrases like 'rock your world' and 'in the same league,' enhancing listeners' understanding of the topic.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Taylor Swift's recent concert in Edinburgh caused seismic activity, described as a 'Swiftquake' due to the energetic dancing of her fans.
• 🌍 The term 'rock your world' refers to something that makes life enjoyable, but in this context, it highlights the literal impact of the concert on the Earth.
• 🔍 Seismologists from Cardiff University monitored the concert to observe any seismic waves generated by the crowd's movements.
• 📈 The ground movement recorded during the concert was 23.4 nanometers, a small yet significant flexing of the Earth.
• 🎶 The highest point of seismic activity was linked to Taylor Swift's performance of 'Cruel Summer', showcasing how crowd dynamics can mimic earthquake-like effects.
• 🌐 Although concerts can create seismic waves, they do not qualify as actual earthquakes, which require a break in the Earth's crust.
• 💡 The concert's energy output, when compared to an earthquake scale, yielded magnitudes generally less than one, indicating it was not on the same scale as a real earthquake.
• 👥 The term 'in unison' signifies that thousands of fans were jumping and stamping together, amplifying the effect.
• 📉 The phrase 'not in the same league' means that the concert's seismic impact was significantly less than that of a real earthquake.
• 📚 Key vocabulary includes: 'flex' (to bend without breaking), 'peak' (the highest point), and 'comparable' (similar in size or quality).

Q & A

What phenomenon is referred to as the 'Swiftquake'?

The 'Swiftquake' refers to the seismic activity caused by the energetic dancing of fans during Taylor Swift's concert in Edinburgh, which was strong enough to be detected four miles away.

Who are the seismologists mentioned in the episode, and what did they study?

The seismologists mentioned are Emma Greenough and James Panton from Cardiff University. They studied ground motion during Taylor Swift's concert to determine if it would produce seismic waves.

What measurement did the British Geological Survey record during the Edinburgh concert?

The British Geological Survey recorded a ground movement of 23.4 nanometers during the concert.

How does the ground movement from the concert compare to a real earthquake?

The ground movement caused by the concert does not qualify as an earthquake because it did not involve breaking the Earth's crust, which is a requirement for a seismic event to be classified as an earthquake.

What did James Panton say about the energy output from concerts?

James Panton mentioned that attempts to convert the energy output from concerts into a local magnitude scale generally result in magnitudes less than one, indicating they are not comparable to actual earthquakes.

What was the quiz question posed in the program regarding a previous concert?

The quiz question asked where a concert by the band Madness, which also triggered seismic waves, took place in London. The options were Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, and Finsbury Park.

Where did Georgie mistakenly guess the Madness concert took place?

Georgie guessed that the Madness concert took place at the Royal Albert Hall, but the correct answer was Finsbury Park.

What does the phrase 'rock your world' mean?

'Rock your world' means that something has a positive effect on you, making your life more enjoyable.

What does the term 'in unison' refer to?

'In unison' refers to actions happening together at the same time, as in the case of fans jumping simultaneously during the concert.

What is the significance of the term 'flex' as used in the episode?

The term 'flex' means to bend without breaking, describing how the Earth moved during the concert without sustaining damage.