The nifty program takes advantage of accelerometers built into many newer laptops. Here’s one genius computer program you might consider pushing virally for science’s sake. The “Quake Catchers” program aims to make earthquake detection a lot easier and cheaper by taking advantage of accelerometers built into MacBooks and other newer laptops, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The accelerometers that are embedded in everything from iPhones to the Nintendo Wii aretiny devices that detect movement. Having software that takes advantage of the tiny devices on thousands of laptops could complement the current system of earthquake sensors installed along fault zones.

For more: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/quake-catcher-software-converts-thousands-laptops-earthquake-sensor-network