Learn how energy builds up along plate boundaries over time and how release of the stored energy leads to earthquakes in this excerpt from NOVA’s Himalayan Megaquake. The Gorkha region in the Himalayas was devastated by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in 2015. The video explains how historical records and GPS technology can help scientists determine energy buildup and the potential for future earthquakes in the Himalayan region.

To view the Background Essay and Teaching Tips for this video, go to Support Materials below. This resource was developed through WGBH’s Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms project, in collaboration with NASA. Click here for the full collection of resources.