Submission + - Scientist Forced to Remove Earthquake Prediction 1
Hugh Pickens writes: "An Italian scientist who predicted a major earthquake near L'Aquila a few weeks ago was forced to remove warnings from the internet after being reported to the police. Giampaolo Giuliani, a researcher at the National Physical Laboratory of Gran Sasso, based his forecast on emissions of radon gas coming from the ground in seismically active areas. Giuliani's warnings drew criticism from the city's mayor, and following complaints to the police, Giuliani was forced to take down warnings he had posted on the internet. The researcher had said that a "disastrous" earthquake would strike on March 29, but when it didn't, Guido Bertolaso, head of Italy's Civil Protection Agency, last week officially denounced Giuliani in court for "false alarm." "These imbeciles enjoy spreading false news," Bertalaso was quoted as saying. "Everyone knows that you can't predict earthquakes." Giuliani, it turns out, was partially right. A much smaller seismic shift struck on the day he said it would, with the truly disastrous one arriving just one week later. "Someone owes me an apology," said Giuliani, who is also a resident of L'Aquila. "The situation here is dramatic. I am devastated, but also angry.""
