MEXICO: Four people were saved from the rubble left by the earthquake in Nepal after they were found by scientists using the Heartbeat Finder. This life-saving device was based on technology NASA developed to help find life living on alien worlds.
The Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response (Finder) device was developed through the cooperation of NASA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This is the first time the instrument has been used in the field to detect heartbeats of people trapped after a disaster.
“The true test of any technology is how well it works in a real-life operational setting. Of course, no one wants disasters to occur, but tools like this are designed to help when our worst nightmares do happen. I am proud that we were able to provide the tools to help rescue these four men,” said Reginald Brothers, under secretary for science and technology for the Department of Homeland Security.
Finder employs a continuous beam of microwaves, which are sent through the rubble of a collapsed building or other structure. The instrument can detect the heartbeat or breathing of a human being, and can distinguish those signals from those given off by an animal. The victim, visible to the machine under 20 feet of concrete or 30 feet of general debris, does not have to be conscious for Finder to detect their presence. Their location can also be measured by the machine, to within an accuracy of around 5 feet.
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