Quake Magnitude

The enormity of the earthquake in the Pacific Ocean has understandably been expressed in the staggering death toll of the resulting tsunamis (80k, at last count, and surely rising). But consider this as an additional indication of how powerful it was - scientists speculate that the Earth may permanently rotate faster as a result. OK, so it's only 3 microseconds faster, but that's still pretty spectacular. The quake also may have tipped the planet on its axis by about an inch.

Click here for the many organizations seeking donations to aid the relief effort.