Japan's Nankai Trough megasplay fault has been causing regular tsunamigenic earthquakes at regular intervals since time immemorial. A study by geophysicists Matt Ikari and Alexander Roesner from the MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Geosciences has revealed that an additional variable could help scientists better understand why the region is prone to earthquake-generating movement. The study also revealed that more friction experiments have been conducted to better understand the mechanics of this seismic region. Future work will help scientists identify areas along the fault and improve prediction methods for when the next earthquake will strike.