Destruction Decoded

Dams control water supply and generate power, but cities can be submerged in minutes if something goes wrong; bridges and tunnels make hard-to-reach places easily accessible, but when they unexpectedly fail, the results can be disastrous.

Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates suddenly shift and shock waves shake the Earths surface; they occur along fault lines -- the most active being the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean and the San Andreas Fault on the American West Coast.

Tornadoes demolish houses, flip cars, cross rivers, dig trenches, and lift objects into the air. This lethal combination of wind and power will destroy everything in its path - and cannot be stopped.

When it comes to disasters, mother nature has mankind beat, but oil spills, building collapses, and nuclear accidents are becoming increasingly devastating. How does this impact the planets vitality?