Injection of nitrogen-consuming microbes into soils may be an effective, environment-friendly way to stabilize soils against liquefaction during earthquakes. In this image, a San Francisco apartment ...

Soil liquefaction—the process where saturated soil loses its structure and transforms to a fluid-like state—can have devastating outcomes, as evidenced by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

A process that works with naturally occurring microbes in soil to reduce its water content is showing promise as a more environmentally sustainable way to stabilize buildings in earthquake-prone zones ...