Science in the dock in Italy as witnesses confront earthquake experts on trial for manslaughter.
But earthquake experts say the migration will probably not last.
The new estimate is higher, researchers said, because earthquake experts realize that the region contains many more faults than was previously assumed.
Surprising as that may be to an ordinary newspaper reader, that phenomenon is familiar to any earthquake expert, since it demonstrates the capriciousness of earthquakes.
In the opinion of earthquake experts, too, Blegen's evidence is dubious and his conclusion unproven.
After later focusing more on seismology, he became one of the world's leading earthquake experts of his time.
Of 'Mob Hysteria' Not all earthquake experts agree that the buried faults are very dangerous.
But he and other earthquake experts do not know whether this swarm will be harmless.
In L'Aquila prior to the major quake there were the assertions by a self-proclaimed earthquake expert of an imminent disaster.
As the Bay Area works in the months ahead to recover from today's shock, earthquake experts will be drawing new lessons and refining their plans for the next one.