NASA has launched a software known as ‘Quest For Quakes,’ which is designed to spot electromagnetic pulses before earthquakes occur. “‘Quest For Quakes’ encourages individuals knowledgeable in writing software codes and devising algorithms to search for evidence that could back the theory of electromagnetic pulses preceding earthquakes,” according to researchers. The ‘Quest For Quake’ challenge is managed by the NASA Tournament Lab.
Research has previously proposed that electromagnetic pulses emitted from the ground close to the epicenter of an earthquake may serve as warning signals for impending earthquakes and damages. However, this theory has not been proven.
A two week testing challenge of the software began on July 27 and will continue until August 9. During testing, the Tournament Lab aims to “create the groundbreaking solutions for real-world challenges being faced by NASA researchers.”
“Developing a reliable approach that can separate potential earthquake-induced electromagnetic pulses from the myriad of natural and anthropogenic sources has been a significant challenge,” Craig Dobson, NASA’s program scientist, said.
