Earthquakes near Area 51 have sparked nuclear conspiracy theories. Here's what really happened

At least 17 earthquakes have been recorded near Area 51, in Nevada, over the past two days, drawing attention online and speculation around nuclear testing.

But Dr. Robert Shcherbakov , associate professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, says there’s a perfectly ordinary scientific explanation for the activity.

In an interview with National Post, he explained: “We call these events ‘swarms’, where earthquakes or similar issues occur in a short period of time, and they’re related to changes in fluids migrating under the Earth’s surface.”

The recent quakes ranged from 2.5 to 4.4 in magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), with one of the strongest occurring at a shallow depth of about 2.5 miles (4 km).

Nevada continued to experience earthquakes into Friday, with a 5.2 magnitude quake recorded in the early hours of the morning, near Carson City.

Area 51 has long been the subject of theories related to alien life, owing to its Cold War origins and the high level of security surrounding the site.

It’s also close to the Nevada Test Site, where the U.S. tested nuclear weapons from 1951 to 1992. This proximity has led to speculation online about possible renewed activity at the site, although there is no evidence to support such claims.

In fact, according to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, a research division at the University of Nevada, the state ranks third in the U.S. for number of earthquakes over the past 150 years.

Seismic activity in the region is therefore not unusual, but that hasn’t stopped online theorists.

For example, on X, geologist Stefan Burns claimed: “Earthquakes and nuclear tests are actually quite similar. They are different, but in general they form similar characteristics, because basically there’s a big blast of energy.”

Suspicious Earthquake from Area 51 and Underground Nuclear Testing... https://t.co/1Lvb7BQnLn

— Stefan Burns (@StefanBurnsGeo) April 29, 2026

But Dr. Shcherbakov said that this isn’t entirely correct. “From the signature of the waveforms, in most cases, we can tell if it’s a nuclear test, or an explosion, or if it’s a natural earthquake,” he said. “I checked the waveforms of that 5.2 event, and it’s a typical tectonic earthquake.”

Referencing nuclear tests that have previously taken place in North Korea, Dr. Shcherbakov said there are “big distinctions” between how an earthquake and a nuclear explosion appear on seismometers, and these are “well understood” by experts in the field.

As for what really goes on at Area 51, there’s very little official information. But it’s widely believed to be a development and testing ground for cutting-edge aircraft.

The goings-on at the site are so secretive that its existence was only officially acknowledged by the CIA in 2013, despite the base first being established in 1955.

Meanwhile, a separate conspiracy theory has gained credibility after the FBI announced it would investigate a string of cases of missing and deceased scientists, many of whom were reportedly involved in sensitive nuclear and aerospace research.

The list includes award-winning Canadian-born astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, who was shot dead on the front porch of his remote Los Angeles County home.

Speaking on FOX’s Sunday Morning Futures , FBI director Kash Patel said his office, in conjunction with the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and law enforcement agencies, will investigate “whether there are connections to classified access, access to classified information, and or foreign actors.”

“If there’s any connections that lead to nefarious conduct or conspiracy, this FBI will make the appropriate arrest,” he said.

• Canadian astrophysicist among dead and missing scientists at the centre of U.S. probe
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