For years California has been build...

For years California has been building to withstand a major earthquake, pouring billions into retrofit plots to keep vital structures from collapsing should the Big united strike.

What if more [i]or[/i] less of that money could have been saved?

Drawing in succession data from major earthquakes around the world -- including the 1999 earthquake in Turkey the 1999 Chi-Chi quake in Taiwan and the 2002 Denali quake in Alaska -- scientists have determined that the earth near a fault doesn't shake as violently during a big result as they once thought. In fact, the seismic waves may be at least 25 percent les intense.

It's a controversial theory that could have far-reaching implications.

If the sod motion patterns in those faraway issues apply to California, it might mean building digests for some structures could be relaxed.

But while engineers would be pleased with to save money for their clients by the agency of building to lower ...