News flash —

If you have an Android phone, you can actually detect earthquakes. Google has created an Android Earthquake Alerts system by using smartphone accelerometers. Between 2021 and 2024, the system has detected over 11,000 earthquakes and issued more than 1200 alerts in 98 countries. The results have been as effective as seismometers and, more importantly, has led to a tenfold increase in the number of people who get quake alerts.

The researchers published their findings July 17 in the journal Science.

Also see “Google Has Turned 2 Billion Smartphones Into a Global Earthquake Warning System — It’s as Effective as Seismometers, Tests Show” by Ben Turner (https://www.livescience.com/technology/communications/google-has-turned-2-billion-smartphones-into-a-global-earthquake-warning-system-its-as-effective-as-seismometers-tests-show?).