science / Real
Do earthquake machines record shaking as zigzags?
Yes. A seismograph records ground motion, producing a seismogram that shows earthquake waves.
SEISMO ZIGZAG
The Claim
Seismographs record earthquake waves as wiggly lines.
The Answer
USGS explains that seismographs detect ground shaking and seismograms record the waves. The dramatic zigzags are measurements, not artistic guesses.
Why This Is Surprising
It sounds like the kind of claim that races around social feeds without context. The source trail matters because the best version of the wonder is the verified one.
How We Checked It
We looked for an authoritative primary source, checked the wording against at least one credible secondary source when available, and recorded the last review date.