The Earthquake Detectives

This special documentary follows the earthquake detectives searching for the ultimate clue: a sign that an earthquake is coming. Should they crack the code, it could save thousands of lives every year.

Long considered the holy grail of seismology, earthquakes are among the few natural disasters still impossible to predict, but advancements in technology - and now artificial intelligence - could bring us closer than ever before.

In India, a trailblazing husband-and-wife team embark on an adventure across the Kachchh Desert in search of a natural gas that may provide a clue. While, in Japan, scientists are drilling thousands of kilometres beneath the seafloor to understand more about the Nankai Trough, an earthquake fault line that threatens the future of Japanese society.

In Xi’an, China, scientists believe they are on the brink of a breakthrough. By monitoring abnormal changes in the Earth’s gravity, they’re convinced they can predict when the next big earthquake will strike.

Episodes: 1 x 60 minutes

Languages: English

Production year: 2025