Scientists are developing a quantum sensor for low Earth orbit that can detect tiny changes in Earth’s gravity, caused by factors like moving water or tectonic shifts.

This device could help map underground features such as aquifers and mineral deposits, crucial for navigation, resource management, and national security.

The sensor, based on atom interferometry, uses cooled atoms and lasers to measure gravity changes with extreme precision, Space.com has reported.

Smaller and lighter than traditional gravity instruments, it will undergo an in-space test later this decade, advancing both quantum gravity technology and space missions.

Written by B.C. Begley