News Earth

Machine learning and gravity signals could rapidly detect big earthquakes

Monitoring speed-of-light changes in Earth’s gravitational field could speed up hazard warnings

the city of Otsuchi, Japan after a devastating earthquake

A magnitude 9 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan in 2011, triggering a tsunami that devastated much of the country’s coast, including the city of Otsuchi (shown). Scientists are developing an early warning system that uses AI to detect gravity signals generated almost instantaneously by quakes.

Toshiharu Kato/Japanese Red Cross/IFRC/Getty Images

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Massive earthquakes don’t just move the ground — they make speed-of-light adjustments to Earth’s gravitational field.