This Gravity Sensor Could Be Your Next Best Treasure Hunting Buddy--But Just How Accurate Is It?

A gravity sensor is not the kind of equipment that comes to mind when you think of treasure hunting. But this one might just be the best treasure-hunting gear out there-if you can get one for yourself, that is.

In a report by ScienceNews.org, the aforementioned gravity sensor relies on how free-falling atoms reveal subtle differences in the Earth's gravitational pull at certain places. These differences, which can be detected by the machine, often indicate how dense the material is right underneath the sensor.

As such, the tech will allow the machine to basically look underground without having to dig. Furthermore, it seems to be far more accurate than typical metal detectors often used by treasure hunters. By using the natural properties of Earth's atoms as they are being affected by Earth's gravity, the sensor can produce a super-accurate map of the underground.

This makes experimental physicist Nicola Poli, who works at the University of Florence, confident that the quantum gravity sensor can be used in "many, many applications." Aside from potentially finding lost treasure, this kind of machine could also be an excellent tool for archeologists looking for lost tombs and other artifacts buried deep within the Earth.

Testing The Machine

A team from the University of Birmingham in England took a version of the machine out for a spin, in order to test just how accurate it is. As per the original ScienceNews.org report, the team was able to detect an underground passageway beneath the campus and were also able to pinpoint the exact location of the passageway: under a road between two multi-story buildings.

For now, however, the only problem with such a machine is portability. Even the most portable gravity sensors out there can still weigh over 33 pounds. The one that the University of Birmingham tested weighed 661 pounds. So if you're planning to get one to replace your good-old metal detector, maybe reconsider your other options first.

What Else Can A Gravity Sensor Do?

Since treasure hunting with a gravity sensor is not on the table for now, there are still far more important things that this machine can help with.

According to Phys.org, using such a machine could mean that it is far easier to build rail, road, and building projects. That's because you'll be able to get a lay of the underground in mere minutes, which will reduce the costs and risk of delays for such projects in the long run.

Furthermore, the sensor can also help in improving the accuracy of predicting volcanic eruptions. The main reason is the technology's ability to monitor magma beneath volcanoes by looking at atomic changes, as mentioned in a study posted in the journal Nature.

With how a single volcanic eruption basically put an entire country (Tonga) digitally out of action, the increased accuracy of eruption predictions could help prevent critical infrastructure from being destroyed (in Tonga's case, it's their underwater internet cable) and limit the loss of lives.

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Written by RJ Pierce