When Worlds Quake: The Quest to Understand the Interior of Earth and Beyond

by Hrvoje Tkalcic

Overview

How earthquakes can reveal the subsurface secrets of our planet and other worlds

When Worlds Quake is a fascinating account of how scientists around the globe seek to use quakes to answer tantalizing questions about the structure and inner dynamics of our planet and to discover the deepest secrets of our nearest neighbors in the solar system.

Briefly traversing the history of seismology, Hrvoje Tkalčić describes the women and men who sought to understand major seismic events—from the catastrophic 1556 Shaanxi earthquake and the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 to more recent events such as the 2020 earthquakes in Tkalčić’s native Croatia—and thus shaped the field. Modern global seismologists now not only study the behavior of earthquakes but also use seismic waves as tools to image Earth’s deep interior. To do this work, they need seismographs positioned around the globe, including in remote, challenging regions. Tkalčić takes the reader along on his own daring expeditions to install seismographs and collect seismic wave data from the wilds of the Australian Outback to the rough depths of the Southern Ocean, and even farther afield—to the Moon and Mars, where quakes can be used to image the interiors of these worlds.

A riveting and often personal narrative about the cutting-edge science of global and planetary seismology, When Worlds Quake reveals how quakes can help scientists to understand the mysterious inner architecture and ongoing evolution of our planet, as well as worlds beyond our own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691271477
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	01/13/2026
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hrvoje Tkalčić is professor and head of Geophysics at the Australian National University, where he is director of the Warramunga Seismic and Infrasound Monitoring Facility. Recipient of the Price Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, he is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the American Geophysical Union, recognized for his fundamental contributions to the study of Earth’s interior. His books include The Earth’s Inner Core.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“It is marvelously refreshing to come across a book on earthquakes that doesn’t focus on the devastation they cause but zeroes in on what they can teach us about our world. Excellent and accessible, When Worlds Quake is essential reading for anyone eager to find out how a small rocky planet operates.”—Bill McGuire, author of Hothouse Earth: An Inhabitant’s Guide

“An excellent and inspiring narrative about life as an earth scientist. Hrvoje Tkalčić reels readers in with his strong prose, expressing wonder at the natural world, the pleasure of discovery that is often beneficial to mankind, and the experience of striving to do challenging work in various difficult environments in nature.”—John E. Vidale, University of Southern California

“This lively and engaging book exposes the dual nature of earthquakes. Firstly, a destructive component arising from the stresses and strains in our active planet and secondly, the source of seismic waves that act as the principal probes for the internal structure of Earth, Moon, and Mars. Linking personal experiences with cutting-edge science, Tkalčić conveys the challenges in understanding the nature and dynamics of our planet.”—Brian L. N. Kennett, coauthor of Exploiting Seismic Waveforms

“When Worlds Quake is a lively tour of the exciting science of seismology, engagingly conveyed through personal stories from one of the world’s top seismologists. Tkalčić cleverly weaves together the history of studying earthquakes—like the lessons learned from the devastating 1906 San Francisco quake and attempts by the Chinese to predict earthquakes—with our current understanding of how the earth ‘works,’ all through the lens of his own personal experiences doing seismology research in many parts of the globe. A very fun read!”—Michael Wysession, Washington University in St. Louis

“Intriguing, thought-provoking, and well-crafted, When Worlds Quake combines the evolution of modern seismology with Tkalčić’s personal experiences, showcasing the exciting progress in the field in a unique and compelling way.”—Sung-Joon Chang, Kangwon National University

“When Worlds Quake is hard to put down. Extremely well written, it blends well-researched facts about discoveries, instruments, and methods with an entertaining, often personal narrative that takes us on a journey through time, into the depths of our restless planet, and finally into space. A pleasure for general readers and scientists alike.”—Christine Thomas, University of Münster