Epicenter

epicenter

ENVIRONMENT, MILITARY US specialized (UK epicentre)

US /ˈep.ə.sen.t̬ɚ/

UK /ˈep.ɪ.sen.tər/

the point on the earth's surface directly above the origin of an earthquake:

The Great Nicobar islands lie at the closest point to the epicenter of the earthquake.

An epicenter is also the place that has the highest level of activity:

The U.S. cannot simply assume that it will remain the epicenter of scientific research and technological innovation.