NASA Develops Life-Saving Device to Detect Survivors Under Rubble

NASA, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has developed a cutting-edge device capable of detecting even the slightest movements of people trapped beneath rubble. This technology has already proven its effectiveness during the devastating 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, where it helped locate survivors buried under collapsed buildings.

The device, known as FINDER (Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response), uses advanced microwave radar sensors to detect subtle signs of life—such as breathing and heartbeats—from a distance. It’s specifically created for use in search and rescue processes following natural disasters like earthquakes and avalanches.

Originally developed after the catastrophic 2010 Haiti earthquake, the technology was later commercialized and is now part of emergency response toolkits in disaster-prone regions.

During the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, NASA also utilized its satellites to capture high-resolution images of the affected areas. These images were used to assess the extent of the damage and to help guide rescue efforts on the ground.

In addition to FINDER, NASA’s EMIT instrument, installed on the International Space Station, was used to analyze atmospheric dust and detect potential gas leaks that could pose further threats after a disaster.

Experts believe NASA’s satellite data can also help predict aftershocks, providing early warnings and potentially saving more lives.

This collaboration between scientific innovation and humanitarian response highlights how advanced space technologies can play a vital role in saving lives during natural disasters.