time travel in google earth

We’ve added imagery from 2021-2022 to Timelapse. Head to Google Earth to explore more

Pocket-lint

How to watch a 37-year time-lapse of your hometown.

Google compiled 24 million satellite photos from the past four decades, with the goal of providing a clearer picture of the changing planet.

Google Earth lets you view a 3D representation of Earth-based mostly on satellite imagery. Now, it will let you see how the planet has changed over the past 37 years, with just a few clicks. 

Google announced on 15 April 2021 that Google Earth will allow users to explore the evolution of a location via a time-lapse experience. It compiled 24 million satellite photos from the past four decades, with the goal of providing a clearer picture of the changing planet. "One that shows not just problems but also solutions, as well as mesmerizingly beautiful natural phenomena that unfold over decades", said Rebecca Moore, the director of Google Earth, in a blog post .

Google plans to continue to add new imagery to this project every year over the next decade. It's collaborating with NASA, the US Geological Survey's Landsat program, and the European Union's Copernicus program. It also worked with Carnegie Mellon University's CREATE Lab to power the timelapses.

How to view a timelapse of your hometown

To explore a timelapse in Google Earth, follow these steps:

• From your browser, go to g.co/Timelapse.
• You can use the "Search the planet" search bar to choose any place on the planet.
• The timelapse will be on the left, while the search area will be on the right.
• You can play or pause the timelapse or skip to a specific year above the search area.
• Google has categories for some locations, such as glaciers and deforestation.

Want to see more cool Google Earth timelapses?

Google said it uploaded more than 800 timelapse videos in both 2D and 3D for public use at g.co/TimelapseVideos . You can watch them as MP4s or on YouTube .

An Inside Look at Google Earth Timelapse

June 5, 2019

Posted by Paul Dille, Senior Software Developer, Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab, and Chris Herwig, Geo Data Engineer, Google Earth Outreach

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Google Earth

Get lost in the new Earth Timelapse, now on mobile

Apr 25, 2019

[[read-time]] min read

Today we’re introducing several updates to Google Earth Timelapse , a global, zoomable time-lapse video that lets anyone explore the last 35 years of our changing planet’s surface—from the global scale to the local scale. This update adds two additional years of imagery to the time-series visualization, now spanning from 1984 to 2018, along with mobile support and visual upgrades to make exploring more accessible and intuitive.

Timelapse provides a comprehensive picture of our changing Earth—including stunning phenomena like the sprouting of Dubai’s Palm Islands , the retreat of Alaska’s Columbia Glacier and the impressive urban expansion of Las Vegas, Nevada (seen below).

See the growth of cities around the world, including Las Vegas, Nevada.

See the impact of large-scale infrastructure on a local level such as hydropower dams in the Brazilian Amazon.

Gaze in awe at the scale of change, sometimes rapid, like bushfires in Australia's Northern Territory.

See the complex dynamics of many different things at play in a small place like volcanoes, deforestation and wildfires.

Explore patterns of human activity, like surface mining, which takes many diverse forms across the world.

Scientists, documentarians and journalists have used this dataset to help us better understand the complex dynamics at work on our planet. News outlets have brought their reporting to life with Timelapse imagery, from coverage of the floods in Houston, Texas to population monitoring . Recently, a team of scientists at the University of Ottawa published an article Nature based on the Timelapse dataset which revealed a 6,000 percent increase in landslides on a Canadian Arctic island since 1984. Starting this week, if you’re in the U.K., you can see Timelapse imagery featured in Earth From Space , a new BBC series about the incredible discoveries and perspectives captured from above. 

Zeit Online uses Timelapse to show the extent to which jungles are cleared for soy production in Brazil.

Using Google Earth Engine , Google's cloud platform for petabyte-scale geospatial analysis, we combined more than 15 million satellite images (roughly 10 quadrillion pixels) to create the 35 global cloud-free images that make up Timelapse. These images come from the U.S. Geological Survey/NASA Landsat and European Sentinel programs. Once again, we joined forces with our friends at Carnegie Mellon’s CREATE Lab , whose Time Machine video technology makes Timelapse interactively explorable.

Today's update also adds mobile and tablet support, making it a little easier for you to explore, research or get lost in the imagery—from wherever you are. Up until recently, mobile browsers disabled the ability to autoplay videos, which is critical for Timelapse (since it’s made up of tens of millions of multi-resolution, overlapping videos). Chrome and Firefox reinstated support for autoplay (with sound muted), so we’ve added mobile support with this latest update.

Earth Timelapse, now available on phones and tablets, includes a handy new "Maps Mode" toggle to let you navigate the map using Google Maps.

The design of the new Timelapse interface leverages Material Design with simple, clean lines and clear focal areas, so you can easily navigate the immense dataset. We contributed this new user interface to the open-source Time Machine project, used by Carnegie Mellon and others. Read more about our design approach at Google Design .

We’re committed to creating products like Timelapse with the planet in mind, and hope that making this data easily accessible will ground debates, encourage discovery, and inform the global community’s thinking about how we live on our planet. Get started with Timelapse on the Earth Engine website , or take a mesmerizing tour of the world through YouTube .

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How to go 'back in time' in Google Earth using its historical imagery feature, and see locations many years in the past

• You can use Google Earth's historical imagery tool to essentially go back in time.
• Google Earth's tool lets you view what certain points on the globe looked like many years in the past.
• In order to access and use it, you have to use the desktop application, rather than the Google Earth mobile app.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

In itself, Google Earth can be an interesting tool. It allows users to check out far-off and unfamiliar places, to see what they look like in 2D or 3D, and even investigate local points of interest.

By default, you'll see things as they appear now. But, thanks to the program's historical imagery tool, you can also see what the map would have looked like at different points in time — though this option may not be available for every location.

Here's how to use that tool and get a more historical view of the places you want to see on Google Earth .

How to go back in time on Google Earth

Before you get started, keep in mind that in order to check out a map over time, you'll have to be using the downloadable application version of Google Earth, rather than the mobile app.

1. Go to https://www.google.com/earth/versions/#download-pro to download Google Earth Pro. Install it onto your computer, and then open it.

2. Click the search bar at the top of the left sidebar and search for the location you want to view. This can be a city and state or country, GPS coordinates, a street name, specific address, ZIP or postal code, or a general place.

3. Click "Search."

4. Click "View" in the menu bar at the top of your screen, and then "Historical Imagery."

5. A bar will open up at the top of your 3D viewer that will let you scroll back in time. The map will change as you scroll through time.

Related coverage from  How To Do Everything: Tech :

How to change your route on google maps on desktop or mobile, to choose an alternate route or make your own, how to calibrate your google maps app to give more accurate directions, on iphone or android, how to change your default home address on an iphone, in both google maps and apple maps, how to change the 'significant locations' saved on your iphone, or delete the list.

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

Watch: I cut Google out of my life for 2 weeks, but the alternatives prove why Google is so much better

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How to View the Past on Google Earth

Last Updated: February 27, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 100,728 times. Learn more...

Do you want to see how your hometown looked like decades ago? How about Paris or Dubai? It can be neat to compare what a place looked like before with what it is now. With Google Earth on your computer, you travel back in time and view the past, right in the comforts of your home. Go ahead and explore the past.

Things You Should Know

• Open the Google Earth program and navigate to the location you want to examine.
• Click “View” > “Historical Imagery." A time lapse bar will appear.
• Scroll through images from 2001 up until the present.

• Wait a few moments for the rendering to be completed for the location. Once it’s done, you will be able to see the location very clearly and vividly, as if you’re right in front of it. You can again use the navigation buttons to move around the view of the location.

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You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.google.com/earth/answer/21955?hl=en
• ↑ https://earth.google.com/intl/ar/userguide/v4/index.htm
• ↑ https://support.google.com/earth/answer/148094?hl=en
• ↑ https://uwaterloo.ca/library/geospatial/sites/ca.library.geospatial/files/uploads/files/google_earth_2016.pdf

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Exploring Time Travel with Google Earth: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

Time travel has always been a fascinating concept – the idea of being able to go back in time and see what the world was like or explore different points in history. With Google Earth’s new time travel feature, you can do just that! Google Earth’s time travel feature allows users to virtually explore different locations at different times, allowing them to compare and contrast how landscapes have changed over time.

What is Google Earth’s Time Travel Feature?

Google Earth’s time travel feature is an interactive tool that allows users to explore different places at different times. The tool uses historical imagery to show users how certain locations have changed over time. This allows users to take a virtual trip through time and explore different locations from different eras.

According to Google, “The Time Travel feature in Google Earth takes you on an interactive journey through time using historical imagery. You can explore how a location has changed over time by viewing older satellite images and maps. You can also compare two different dates to see how a landscape has evolved over time.”

Benefits of Exploring Time Travel with Google Earth

Exploring time travel with Google Earth can be a great way to learn about local culture and history. It can also help to uncover stories from the past, as well as provide insight into how certain locations have changed over time. Additionally, it can be a fun and engaging way to explore different locations and get a glimpse into the past.

If you’re interested in exploring time travel with Google Earth, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Download and Install Google Earth

To get started, you’ll need to download and install Google Earth. Google Earth is available for free on both desktop and mobile devices. Once downloaded and installed, you’re ready to start exploring time travel with Google Earth.

Open the Time Travel Tool

Once you’ve opened Google Earth, you’ll need to open the time travel tool. To do this, simply click on the “Time” icon in the top left corner of the screen. This will open the time travel tool, which will allow you to explore different locations at different times.

Set Your Date and Location

Next, you’ll need to set your date and location. To do this, simply enter the date and location you want to explore in the search bar. Once you’ve entered the date and location, Google Earth will display the corresponding imagery.

View Historical Imagery in Google Earth

Once you’ve entered the date and location, you’ll be able to view the historical imagery in Google Earth. The imagery will be displayed in a timeline format, allowing you to view different points in time. You can also zoom in and out to get a better look at the imagery.

How to Use Google Earth to Virtually Time Travel

Once you’ve opened the time travel tool and set your date and location, you’ll be able to virtually time travel with Google Earth. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time travel experience.

Navigate Through Different Time Periods

Using the timeline feature in Google Earth, you can navigate through different time periods. Simply move the slider along the timeline to view different points in time. You can also use the arrows above the timeline to move forward or backward in time.

Compare Locations from Different Time Periods

Another great way to explore time travel with Google Earth is to compare locations from different time periods. For example, you can view a location from 10 years ago and then compare it to the same location today. This can be a great way to see how a place has changed over time.

Visiting the Past with Google Earth’s Time Travel Feature

Exploring time travel with Google Earth can be a great way to visit the past and uncover stories from the past. Here are some tips on how to use Google Earth’s time travel feature to explore historical sites and uncover stories from the past.

Explore Historical Sites

Using Google Earth’s time travel feature, you can explore historical sites from different time periods. This can be a great way to learn about local culture and history, as well as get a glimpse into the past.

Uncover Stories from the Past

Google Earth’s time travel feature can also be used to uncover stories from the past. By comparing different locations from different time periods, you can gain insight into how certain locations have changed over time, and uncover stories from the past.

Take a Trip Through Time Using Google Earth’s Time Travel Feature

Google Earth’s time travel feature can also be used to take a virtual trip through time. Here are some tips on how to use Google Earth’s time travel feature to take a trip through time.

Find Out What Your Home Looked Like Decades Ago

Using Google Earth’s time travel feature, you can find out what your home looked like decades ago. Simply enter your address and select a date from the timeline. You’ll then be able to view historical imagery of your home from different points in time.

Discover How Landscapes Have Changed Over Time

Google Earth’s time travel feature can also be used to discover how landscapes have changed over time. By comparing different points in time, you can gain insight into how certain locations have evolved over time.

Uncovering History with Google Earth’s Time Travel Tool

Google Earth’s time travel feature can also be used to uncover history. Here are some tips on how to use Google Earth’s time travel tool to uncover history.

Learn About Local Culture and History

Using Google Earth’s time travel feature, you can learn about local culture and history. By exploring different locations at different times, you can gain insight into how certain locations have changed over time, as well as uncover stories from the past.

Interact with Historical Imagery

Google Earth’s time travel feature also allows users to interact with historical imagery. This can be a great way to explore different locations from different eras and get a glimpse into the past.

Google Earth’s time travel feature is a great way to explore time travel and uncover stories from the past. With Google Earth’s time travel feature, users can explore different locations at different times, compare locations from different time periods, and uncover stories from the past. Whether you’re looking to explore local culture and history or take a virtual trip through time, Google Earth’s time travel feature is the perfect tool for doing just that.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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How to go back in time on google earth.

It's easy to spend an entire day gaping at those fascinating historical photos

Google Maps and Earth have revolutionized how we see the world. Google Maps navigates unknown cities in real time, and Google Earth operates on a larger scale. Google Earth takes us on an immersive virtual tour of our planet from above. You don't need to splurge on a powerful computer to enjoy curated tours if you use the web version of Google Earth. You can experience stunning aerial views even on the most affordable Chromebooks .

Install the Google Earth Pro desktop app for Windows, Mac, and Linux to go back in time and view historical imagery. You can rewind the clock over several decades, making it a solid tool for academic research. And it's free. This tutorial shows you how to go back in time on Google Earth.

How to turn back the clock on Google Earth for desktop

Google Earth's historical imagery tool combines data from many sources to show how a particular area looked in the past. Thanks to the USGS and NASA's Landsat program, Google has access to decades' worth of images of Earth taken from space.

Some locations allow you to rewind the map data to the 1930s. However, this feature is only available on the Google Earth Pro desktop app. The software may look dated, but it has everything you need to access historical map imagery.

Google Earth Pro: Everything you need to know

To go back in time using the Google Earth Pro desktop app, do the following:

• Visit this link to download Google Earth Pro for your computer.
• When the download finishes, install the app on your computer.
• Open the Google Earth Pro app and locate the search bar in the upper-left corner.

In the example screenshots above, the aerial imagery of Dubai's dramatically changing coastline is from 1984. It can date as far back as the 1930s in some places. Due to limited technology, those earlier images may not be as sharp and high resolution as modern satellite imagery. There's also a chance these archival photos of a location are only available for a small portion of a town, requiring you to zoom in further for a better look.

How to use Timelapse on Google Earth for web

Timelapse on Google Earth is a dramatized version of its historical imagery tool. It uses high-quality satellite images handpicked for specific locations. To give you a tour through these stories, Google Earth curates them under themes, such as shrinking ice caps or growing urban sprawl.

With more animations, an automatic time slider, and the accompanying contextual information, Timelapse fits in more with the modern era. You don't need to download an app.

To access the Timelapse feature on Google Earth for the web, check out these steps:

The Timelapse feature for Google Earth isn't available for all locations. Some may give you a simple photograph, while others only provide information about the geography.

You can also access a more extensive collection of Timelapses dating back to 1984 in the Featured Locations section next to Stories . This selection covers topics ranging from deforestation and mining to natural disasters and infrastructure.

If the Google Earth website doesn't open or work as intended, use Google Chrome as your desktop web browser. Doing so provides the best possible experience when interacting with the Google Earth web app.

How to use Google Earth's Timelapse on the mobile app

The Timelapse feature is also available on the Google Earth app for Android smartphones. If you don't have access to a computer or want to view them from anywhere, you can check out Timelines on the go for any given time period.

To view Timelapses on the Android version of Google Earth, do the following:

• Download and install Google Earth from the Google Play Store.
• Open Google Earth .

Since the historical imagery feature isn't available on the mobile app, Timelapse is the only way to dive into the archival shots. Google makes Timelapse a fun experience to give you a handpicked tour of the places that have seen the most noticeable changes. Given that it's a curated trip, the images are always top quality, without any inconsistencies.

How to go back in time on Google Maps for the web

While Google Earth's historical satellite imagery tool is capable, Google Maps has a few tricks up its sleeve. Google has been recording streets for over a decade, giving it enough data to show how a place has changed on the ground. Read our dedicated post to learn how to access Street View in Google Maps and go through the steps below to go back in time.

How to make Google Maps the default navigation app on your iPhone

To go back in time on Google Maps for the web, check out these steps:

• Open Google Maps in your preferred browser on the desktop.

How to go back in time on Google Maps for Android

Like on the desktop, the Google Maps app on Android has a timeline feature that allows you to go back in time as far as the street view imagery of that location is available. Since this feature is accessible on your phone, going back in time using Google Maps becomes easier.

To find the Street View timeline for Google Maps on Android, do this:

• Open Google Maps .
• Go to the previous screen and zoom in where you want to see historical images. Then, tap the road that has a street view available.
• Check the date at the bottom of the street name for the latest street-view images. On the right, tap See more dates .

Explore the planet (and beyond) with a bird's-eye view

If you are curious about the planet, Google Earth can be a great way to satisfy your curiosity. It provides immersive bird's-eye views and can work as an educational tool to help you get familiar with the geography of historical places. It's a fun and enlightening experience.

Learn how to save your parking spot in Android Auto when you've had enough of Google Earth and return to the ground. Refer to these tips and tricks to make the most of Google Maps if you use the app for driving directions.

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View a map over time

These instructions are for Google Earth Pro. Get help with Google Earth for Web and Mobile.

Google Earth automatically displays current imagery. To see how images have changed over time, view past versions of a map on a timeline.

• Open Google Earth.
• Find a location .

• You can zoom in or out to change the start and end dates covered by your timeline.
• The time slider is not available when you record movies .
• If you select more than one data set, the time slider shows the collective time range of all the data sets.

Import data to view a map over time

Import GPS tracks from a specific time period or other data that contains time information to view images in a timeline.

• Import the GPS data or other time-related data.
• In the Places panel, select the data you imported. The time slider will appear at the top of the 3 D viewer with a time range that corresponds to the data you selected.
• To change the length of time , drag the range marker to the right or left.
• To make the time range earlier or later , drag the time slider to the right or left. The range marker moves with the time slider so that the time range shown remains the same.
• Zoom in to shorten or zoom out to lengthen the date range covered by your timeline. The Start and End dates on the timeline change.

Change the time of day

You can view the effect of the sun and sunlight across the landscape.

Turn on the sunlight feature

Note: The time slider appears.

• To change the timezone: Drag the time slider left or right. Depending on your location and time of year, you can view the sunrise or sunset while looking east or west.
• To display an animation of sunlight across the landscape: Click the time slider play button.

Note: This feature often produces dramatic effects when you are viewing hilly or mountainous terrain.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

How-To Geek

How to time travel in google street view.

Did you know that you can time travel in Google Maps to see old Street View data? Here's how to take a trip down memory lane.

Quick Links

How to view old street view images, some areas are better served than others, do more with google maps.

Google Street View is a great way to see a map from a first-person perspective. You can use this to help find an address, do a bit of virtual sightseeing, or use historic Street View data to travel back in time.

Google will refresh its Street View data every few years in many areas, and you can see older Street View imagery using the desktop version of Google Maps. To do this, head to maps.google.com in a web browser on a computer (This won't work on a smartphone.).

Now, bring up Street View by clicking and dragging the Street View icon (pictured below) and then releasing it while hovering over a street or road. You can also click on a location and then click again on the Street View thumbnail that appears at the bottom of the screen.

To view historic Street View imagery, look at the top-right corner of Google Maps. If older Street View imagery is available, you'll see a clock icon with a downward arrow in this box.

Click on the arrow to see images taken by Street View teams in the past. You can click and drag the slider to move backward and forward through time. You can move around and change perspective and the view will update in real-time. Click on a captured image to see it in full-screen.

To get back to present-day Street View, drag the slider all the way to the right and click on the image again.

Google Maps as a service has some of the best (if not the best) coverage in the world, with an ever-expanding cache of Street View data. Where you live ultimately decides how much historical Street View data you'll have available to you.

The streets around Mountain View in California, where Google is based, have Street View data dating back to 2007 when the service first launched. Many cities and routes were added in the following years, although much of the imagery from the late 2000s is low resolution compared to modern Street View data.

If you don't see the clock icon with a drop-down arrow while in Street View, it means that you're looking at the only pass that the Street View team has made.

Google Maps is an amazing resource, whether you're planning a trip or bored on your lunch break. You can use it to create your own custom maps  or plan a road trip with multiple destinations,  and you can access it all on your smartphone.

You can even use it to keep track of your friends and family .

Related: How to Find Your Family and Friends Using Google Maps

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

• space weather
• solar flares
• solar storm

The Greatest App of All Time Day 23: Google Earth vs. HQ Trivia

W elcome back to Gizmodo’s March Madness bracket challenge to name the greatest app of all time! Flashlight continues to be an unstoppable force and it eliminated Evernote in yesterday’s contest, taking more than 66 percent of the vote. Today, we have two apps that have gotten a lot of love so far but one has to go.

If you’re just tuning in, you can read all about our selection criteria for this historic contest right here . Check out the full bracket of contestants embedded below. And as always, if you think we missed your personal favorite app of all time, yell at us in the comments. Now, let’s get into today’s contestants.

Here’s what we said about Google Earth in the first round:

When the web-based version of Google Earth launched in 2001, it felt like everyone in the world had been handed the keys to a satellite network straight out of Enemy of the State. The ability to start in space, pick a spot on the globe, and zoom in to street level was astonishing. Users like myself immediately went to find their own house and experienced the queasy feeling of being watched. The mobile app of Google Earth made all of this even more satisfying with a touchscreen interface and the app has only gotten better over the years. The addition of Street View, 3D imagery, the ability to zoom underwater, and tons of Easter eggs have made Google Earth an extremely robust app and it’s still available to all for free. It’s certainly one of the best examples of a big tech company creating a public good just because they can.

And here’s what we wrote about HQ Trivia:

HQ Trivia dragged the game show into the modern world when it launched in 2017. While everyone was trying to use the internet to give people the option to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, HQ Trivia brought people together and gave them an appointment. Every night at 9 PM, you could open the app and participate in a trivia contest with cash prizes going as high as $400,000. The questions became increasingly difficult and if you got one wrong you were out. It was fun. It was a phenomenon. Its most popular host, Scott “Trivia Daddy” Rogowsky became a minor celebrity until his departure in 2019. And the app just steadily died off without him. It never officially shut down, it just stopped doing shows. No hard feelings, it was good while it lasted.

So, reader, what’ll it be? Does the sheer scale of Google Earth put it over the top or are your memories of HQ Trivia fond enough to send it to the next round?

External link

Here are the nominees. Choose your fighter.

The Greatest App of All Time: March Madness Bracket Day 1

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Google Takes Next Step in AI Trip Planning

Justin Dawes , Skift

May 14th, 2024 at 4:57 PM EDT

Google is fully in its Gemini era. That’s what executives repeated as they showcased how AI pulls information from across its products to create detailed trip plans and more.

Justin Dawes

Google is diving head first into AI-powered trip planning. 

Gemini Advanced , the paid version of the  Gemini  generative AI chatbot, will soon be able to build travel itineraries with a simple prompt in easy-to-understand language.

It’s also strengthening trip-planning options for AI Overviews, the AI feature it released this year for a traditional Google search. AI Overviews has been available only to U.S. users that opt in, but it’s being released to all U.S. users this week and more countries soon.

The search giant revealed the plans on Tuesday at its annual developer conference, Google I/O. Or, as Google CEO Sundar Pichai called it: “Google’s version of The Eras Tour with fewer costume changes.”

To try early versions of these new tools, opt in to AI experiments with Google Search Labs .

Skift will perform its own tests of the updated tools as soon as they are available.

Itinerary Building in Gemini Advanced

Sissie Hsiao, vice president of Google and general manager for Gemini experiences, used a travel example to illustrate how the chatbot is taking a step closer toward the goal of being a “true AI assistant.” 

The example started with a prompt: “My family and I are going to Miami for Labor Day. My son loves art and my husband really wants fresh seafood. Can you pull my flight and hotel information from Gmail and help me plan the weekend?”

In the background, the AI creates potential travel options from multiple sources of information. “The result is a personalized vacation plan,” Hsiao said. 

Looking at the flight itinerary, the AI knows it needs to create a plan within the length of the trip and allow time before and after each flight. 

The flight in the example lands at 4:28 p.m., so the AI doesn’t recommend a big activity but rather three fresh seafood restaurants for 7:30 p.m. It estimates a 20-minute drive from the airport, an hour to drop off bags and freshen up, and 15 minutes to walk to dinner. 

The next day is full of proposed activities. Make an adjustment, such as changing the start time, and the AI automatically repopulates its plan. 

The trip-planning capability is coming to Gemini Advanced this summer.

Google released Gemini Advanced in February with its most up-to-date AI model at the time. The platform is now getting an upgrade with Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, available in 35 languages.

Travel Recommendations in Google Search

Google showed how users can get upgraded tourism recommendations through the traditional search bar.

The upgraded tech is better at answering multi-faceted questions, said Liz Reid, vice president of Search, during the conference. 

A prompt that Google used as an example: “What are good options for a day out in Dallas with the kids? Recommend some ice cream shops near each option.”

The first option was the Dallas Zoo, and it listed three ice cream shops nearby. 

The other options were Dallas Arboretum and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, along with three ice cream shop options for each. There was also a map below the results that showed each of their locations.  

“Research that might have taken you minutes or even hours, Google can now do on your behalf in just seconds,” Reid said. 

Reid demonstrated the capability during the conference with an example of searching for a yoga studio in Boston . 

There was a video later with a quick clip showing the above example. 

Travel Inspiration in Google Search

Google is also upgrading Search to respond with fuller recommendations during the brainstorming stage, when the prompts are typically less specific. The response includes groups of suggestions organized by the AI.

“What you get here breaks AI out of the box, and it brings it to the whole page,” Reid said.

The example prompt: “Anniversary celebration dinner places Dallas.”

The AI responded with several groups of restaurants based on themes it created: Anniversary-worthy restaurants, restaurants with live music and intimate settings, and historic charm and elegance.

The model also uses contextual factors, like time of the year, Reid said. Since it’s warm now in Dallas, it included a group of options for “romantic” rooftop dining dates.

These AI-organized results pages for brainstorming searches are coming soon for dining and recipes, then expanding to later to include hotels and more.

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Tags: artificial intelligence , google , google gemini , online travel , the prompt , trip planning

Photo credit: Google is releasing more trip planning capabilities power by its Gemini generative AI model. Google