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The innovative Japanese are trying out a new way to make earthquake-resistant buildings.

Air Dashin Systems installs artificial foundations that detect an earthquake and within a second lift a building 3 cm off the ground until the earth stops rumbling. The levitating foundations have been implemented in more than 88 buildings and supposedly costs one-third of other damage prevention systems with the added benefit of very little maintenance.

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Here's a diagram and video (via Marginal Revolution):

Now check out how Japanese skyscrapers survived last year's 8.9 magnitude earthquake >

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