So, never mind that we’re messing with the Earth so bad that it’s actually causing real earthquakes hundreds of times a year. They’re totally not bad ones, right guys? Why, they’re gentler than the Earth’s OWN earthquakes. We’re lubricating the faults, making it easier to slip, more smoothly. In fact, we’re probably even the good guys here. No thanks necessary, we just do it for the satisfaction of serving our fellow man.

How much did that article cost, fracking industry?

The more irritating thing is this part:

The magnitude scale used by USGS and others is mathematically complex, but a drop in 0.8 magnitude translates to about 16 times less strength or energy released.

No, the “magnitude scale” is not mathematically complex. It’s just a log scale. And 4.0 is not “16 times less” (which is not actually a real thing; how about if we just say “a factor of 16 different?”). It’s less than one on a log scale so it has to be less than a factor of 10 different. In this case, a factor of 6.3. Oh, but wait, we’re not talking about magnitude after all. I mean, that’s what we said, but forget that. We’re talking about energy. Which is how real scientists do, you know.

He and others said Hough’s study made sense and could change how researchers look at quake intensity.

Change? I thought you said this is how we do it already? Which is it?

Way to try to distract us sciency-type nerds into forgetting this whole article is basically a Jedi mind trick attempt: “This isn’t the environmental abuse you’re looking for.” Didn’t work.