NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Commuters arrive into the Oculus station and mall in Manhattan on ... [+] November 17, 2022 in New York City. According to a report by the United Nations population division, the world's population reached 8 billion people as of last Tuesday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAI goes to work. Its a central message that well all hear repeatedly next year throughout 2025. Theres an undercurrent running through the technology industry that suggests we may need to start thinking about the practical application of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It will no longer be acceptable (we hope) for vendors to simply say look! weve just added AI to our platform and although were a very long way indeed from AI simply being a functionality rather than a fanfare in its own right (that wont happen inside this decade), we may be at a turning point where the tech glitterati start to realize the need to talk about solid software solutions.Kyle Campos agrees with this sentiment. As chief technology & product officer (CTPO) at FinOps and cloud ROI platform company CloudBolt, Campos is used to conversations that get to the bottom line (financially, literally) quicker than some. He thinks that now is the time for AI in the cloud to moves from simply spotting and identfyig things to actually doing things.The New AI Tablestakes"Beyond data crunching and spitting out so-called insights, AI-driven automation that turns insights into actions, automatically optimizes cloud performance and spend and reduces the insight-to-action gap will become the new tablestakes by the end of 2025, asserts Kampos. Agentic AI will now gain rapid adoption and be integrated into workflows to accelerate AI impact such that the industry begins seeing near-realtime FinOps for the first time. This is the point at which AI begins playing a bigger role in spotting anomalies and making decisions at moments of truth at the edge as organizations continue finding ways to shift left.This sentiment is echoed by AI analytics company ThoughtSpot. The organization has now extended its platform with Spotter, an agentic AI analyst tool designed to bring the analytical and reasoning skills of a human data analyst to all users.Spotter enables users, irrespective of their technical capabilities, to converse with Spotter as they would a human analyst to get a kind of self-service business decision support service in natural, conversational language. The tool integrates with users' preferred softwaer platforms so that is embedded withing existing business applications, digital productivity tools and custom agents.MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDBusiness Augmented ReasoningSpotters architecture begins with ThoughtSpots agentic reasoning layer, known as the BARQ (Business Augmented Reasoning for Questions) layer. Here, questions are classified and matched with the appropriate agent based on the required skill. From frontline workers in retail to C-Suite executives in financial services, Spotter adapts to the industry and persona of its users, allowing everyone to get reliable, replicable and contextually rich insights. Dovetailing with human intelligence, users can modify and interact with their answers directly based on their train-of-thought and business expertise.Enterprise software company Pegasystems Inc. is also suitably (admirably, even) impatient with the state of the AI hypecycle and wants to help bring practical tools to market. The companys AI-driven legacy discovery capabilities in Pega GenAI Blueprint are designed to accelerate the task of modernizing legacy systems.No More Band-AidsThere are only so many Band-Aids that IT can keep applying before their systems reach a breaking point, said Kerim Akgonul, chief product officer, Pega. But digital transformation is a herculean undertaking thats typically fraught with failure. These new features in Pega GenAI Blueprint turbocharge modernization projects so organizations can finally shed their outdated tech and curb technical debt while paving the way for a future-ready business.This is an AI-infused workflow design platform technology (initially launched earlier this year) that enables firms to digitize mission-critical workflows, fast. With newly added legacy discovery features, it jumpstarts digital transformation projects to rethink and replace inefficient systems and apps. Users can now get hold of generative AI to analyze existing IT assets and create new modern cloud-native application blueprints that are ready to build. This sidesteps lengthy discovery processes that slow these projects from the start.With more than 60,000 blueprints created since its launch, Pega GenAI Blueprint is the fastest adopted solution in Pegas history. With nothing more than a natural language description of an app idea, it designs components in seconds using generative AI and drawing on Pegas expertise, industry best practices, and internet knowledge. This makes innovation easy so anyone can go from app idea to functional app design exponentially faster and more completely than any other workflow design tool, said Akgonul and team. Pega GenAI Blueprint releases new features every week to make app design easier and faster. The latest updates include the ability to add new automation types, like AI and robotic processes, to the apps. Plus, with enhanced Live Preview, users can see how their app will look for different personas before going live, complete with their organizations brand style and simulated data.Beyond The BrouhahaIf this trend manifests itself in more concrete terms in the next 12 months, then well likely hear vendors talk about the real world application of real AI tools in this way and tell us that now is the time to get working at a variety of different levels.In truth, many organizations have been using working systems that employ Robotic Process Automation and intelligent data and process mining technologies for most of the current decade if not the one before that too. What has perhaps muddied the perception and understanding of AI throughout 2024 has been the hullabaloo and brouhaha that has accompanied generative AI, the additional layering of retrieval augmented generation and the popularization of agentic AI tools capable of getting on with work with limited (or no) human intervention.As the tech trade now starts to come out of its AI honeymoon period, we can relax and start to enjoy an enriched assemblage of real world intelligence tools that actually perform tasks for humans and help us progress towards better societies, improved human wellbeing and interplanetary sustainability with a core consideration for environmental and social governance.Will all that happen so that the AI hype finally subsides? Dont be ridiculous, strap yourself in for more of the same.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers amazing access to hundreds of high-quality games for Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. But what if we told you that this already stellar deal just got even sweeter?For a limited time, you can grab a 3-month membership for just $36 (down from the regular $50+ price tag). Or if you want to try this out for a shorter period, one month of Game Pass Ultimate is currently just $12 (regularly $19.99).If you're a PC gamer who hasn't paid attention to Game Pass before, now is the time. The service includes access to a staggering catalog of over 500 games, many of which are fully optimized for PC. Recent and popular releases include: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, Minecraft, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, to name a few of the bigger titles included with Game Pass.With this deal, you have the option of stackable codes, which means you can purchase up to five 3-month memberships to extend your subscription for a full 15 months. Also, unlike other deals that target only newcomers, these codes work for both new and existing subscribers.Game Pass Ultimate for PC GamersHere's where Game Pass Ultimate flexes its muscle: It's not just a game subscription service; it's a game changer. For PC gamers, the features are hard to overstate:Massive Game Library: With day-one access to AAA titles like STALKER 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, alongside indie darlings and timeless classics, there's no shortage of variety. Need a break from high-octane shooters? Boot up Spyro Reignited Trilogy for a nostalgia trip.EA Play Included: Love The Sims, Battlefield, or FIFA? Game Pass Ultimate comes bundled with EA Play, offering access to a robust library of EA games at no additional cost.Cross-Platform Play: Play with friends on Xbox or PC seamlessly. Titles like Minecraft and Forza Horizon 5 thrive in multiplayer, and Game Pass Ultimate's online features keep the experience smooth and hassle-free.Cloud Gaming: Want to take your session on the go? Game Pass Ultimate includes cloud streaming, letting you pick up your games on phones or tablets when you're away from your PC.Free Monthly Perks: Microsoft keeps sweetening the deal with monthly perks like in-game content, add-ons, and partner offers. These extras are a surprising value-add that many players overlook.With new games added regularly, including day-one access to titles from Bethesda and Xbox Game Studios, the value of Game Pass has been proven over time.If you're a PC gamer who's overlooked Game Pass Ultimate, consider this your wake-up call. This isn't just a subscription it's a backstage pass to tons of AAA gaming, offered at a price that's almost too good to be true. // Related StoriesStackSocial is a trusted partner of TechSpot, managing the TechSpot Store reliably for over a decade. Prices are subject to change.Here's a summary of our current Microsoft software deals:Windows 11 Pro available for $20Microsoft Visual Studio Professional for $34Microsoft Office 2021 Pro available for $69Microsoft Project 2021 for Windows for $18

In brief: The Solar Orbiter's ongoing mission to the Sun has unlocked invaluable information for researchers during its spiral around our star. The mission has already transformed our understanding of solar physics and its implications for our planet and space exploration. The probe's latest scientific contributions are some stunning, high-resolution composite images. The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter mission has captured the highest-resolution full views of the Sun's visible surface. The images, taken in March 2023, provide a multilayered perspective from the Sun's visible surface to its outer atmosphere. The photos reveal intricate details of the Sun's magnetic field and plasma movements, shedding new light on solar phenomena.Launched in 2020, the Solar Orbiter has six advanced imaging instruments, each designed to observe different aspects of the Sun. The Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) and the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) are two key instruments responsible for these latest images.The PHI captures images in visible light, measures the direction of the magnetic field, and maps the speed and direction of surface movements. The EUI images the Sun in ultraviolet light, revealing the structure of the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona.The images are composites of 25 individual captures taken on the same day. They include a visible light image showing the Sun's photosphere in unprecedented detail, a magnetic field map revealing complex patterns of the Sun's surface magnetic field, a plasma flow map illustrating the movement of plasma on the Sun's surface, and an ultraviolet image displaying the Sun's corona with superheated plasma extending from sunspots along magnetic field lines.The Solar Orbiter captured the images at approximately 74 million kilometers from the Sun, a relatively close distance for solar observation."The Sun's magnetic field is key to understanding the dynamic nature of our home star from the smallest to the largest scales," said Solar Orbiter Project Scientist Daniel Mller. "These new high-resolution maps from Solar Orbiter's PHI instrument show the beauty of the Sun's surface magnetic field and flows in great detail. At the same time, they are crucial for inferring the magnetic field in the Sun's hot corona, which our EUI instrument is imaging." // Related StoriesThe Solar Orbiter mission aims to investigate several critical aspects of the Sun, including the mechanism behind solar wind, the complex dynamics of the Sun's magnetic field, and solar eruptions such as flares and coronal mass ejections. These latest images represent a significant step forward in achieving these objectives. Scientists can study the intricate interplay between the Sun's magnetic field and its various layers.They also enable researchers to study small-scale magnetic structures and their evolution, analyze the connection between surface phenomena and coronal activities, and improve models of solar dynamics and space weather predictions. Scientists expect the Solar Orbiter to provide even more detailed observations, particularly during its closest approaches to the Sun.If you're interested, the ESA has a cool image viewer that allows users to zoom in and out of the full-resolution images. Be patient, though. The images can take several seconds to load, depending on the speed of your connection.

When it premiered in late 2022, Andors first season quickly emerged as one of the most critically acclaimed Star Wars titles of Lucasfilms entire Disney-owned era. The show went on to earn eight Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Drama Series. According to Andor creator Tony Gilroy, the Rogue One prequelsextremely positive reception has helped him convince Disney and Lucasfilm to follow his vision for its second and final season.Speaking with Empire, Gilroy told the outlet, The critical appreciation of the show was really helpful, if not essential, in helping Disney choke down the price of what this is. Andor season 1 reportedly had a sizable budget of $250 million, and it seems likely, based on Gilroys comments, that the shows second season will end up costing the same amount or more. Unlike some other blockbuster shows of the past few years, though, most Andor fans would argue that its first seasons budget was used well and visible in every one of its episodes.Recommended VideosLucasfilm is known for being heavily involved and too risk-averse in the making of its Star Wars TV shows and movies, but it sounds like Andor season 1s success has made the series the rare exception to that approach. Indeed, Gilroy told Empire that he never got any notes on this show. He added, In terms of creative notes, no-one has come to me and said, No, they shouldnt say that.'LucasfilmGiven how much attention and acclaim Andors storytelling and dialogue received, it makes sense for Lucasfilm to give Gilroy this much creative space. The studio does, however, have a history of micromanaging its Star Wars projects, whether it be extensively reshooting 2016s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or replacing the directors of 2018s Solo in the midst of its production. Fortunately, when Andor makes its long-awaited return next year, fans of the show will be able to take solace in knowing that at the very least its second season was made with the freedom that its creator deserves.RelatedAndor season 2 premieres April 22, 2025, on Disney+.Editors Recommendations

Its no secret that Volkswagen has been facing a huge slump in sales in Europe and China, forcing it to close plants in Germany.But unlike other European automakers who have stuck to producing high-end electric vehicles (EVs), the German automaker keeps on reaffirming its commitment to bringing affordable EVs to market, including in the U.S.Recommended VideosAnd that commitment starts with VWs most affordable EV model to date, the ID.2. Volkswagen remains committed to launching the EV by the end of 2025 or early 2026, Kai Grnitz, head of tech development, told Autocars at the Los Angeles Auto Show.RelatedLast year, the automaker launched the ID.2all concept, promising an entry-level EV with prices starting under $27,000.For long-time VW fans, the EV is being promoted as being spacious as a Golf and affordable as a Polo. Its also expected to allow up to 279 miles on a full battery.The design and the interior of the ID.2 promises a trip down memory lane, including driver displays straight out of the VW Beetle and Golf eras.In addition, an ID.2 SUV is slated to be unveiled in September 2025, while a GTI version is also being developed.Meanwhile, its clear that Volkswagen wants to hammer in that affordable is the keyword for its EV strategy. VW CEO Larry Blume has also hinted at a sub-$22,000 EV to be released after 2025. All in all, the automaker says its planning to release eight new affordable EVs by 2027.The price of batteries is one of the main hurdles to reducing EV production costs and lowering sale prices. To that end, VW is developing its own unified battery cellin several European plants, as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.Yet, now that Chinese-made EVs, known as global leaders in terms of affordability, are facing 100% tariffs both in North America and Europe, only a few automakers seem to be interested in selling ever-cheaper EVs in the U.S.General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV ata price of $27,500, including federal tax credits.Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has recently put a floor on expectations for a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.Editors Recommendations

Swedens Northvolt was once a darling of the battery industry and Europes best hope for competing with Chinas dominant battery makers.

HBOs Dune: Prophecy, set 10,000 years before the events of Dune, follows a group of superhuman women fighting to maintain power in the galaxy.

The genial TV host turned right-wing podcaster was an outspoken critic of the governments pandemic response.

What's that smell? After Russian ship docks to space station, astronauts report a foul smell Cosmonauts aboard the Russian segment of the station donned protective equipment. Eric Berger Nov 24, 2024 6:12 pm | 25 A Progress spacecraft is seen departing the space station in February 2023. Credit: NASA A Progress spacecraft is seen departing the space station in February 2023. Credit: NASA Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt should have been a routine mission to ferry about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the International Space Station, but when Russian cosmonauts opened the hatch to a cargo spacecraft on Saturday, they got a surprisea toxic smell."After opening the Progress spacecraft's hatch, the Roscosmos cosmonauts noticed an unexpected odor and observed small droplets, prompting the crew to close the Poisk hatch to the rest of the Russian segment," NASA said in a statement on Sunday.According to the space agency, air scrubbers and contaminant sensors on board the orbiting laboratory monitored the stations atmosphere following the observation of the aberrant smell. By Sunday, flight controllers in Mission Control in Houston determined air quality inside the space station was at normal levels.However, the US space agency may be slightly downplaying the seriousness of the event. According to Anatoly Zak of Russian Space Web, a reliable independent website, the smell was "toxic" and prompted the Russian cosmonauts to immediately close the hatch leading to the Progress spacecraft that launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday.Russian space program faces ongoing challengesZak reported that the cosmonauts aboard the Russian segment of the station donned protective equipment, and activated an extra air-scrubbing system aboard their side of the facility. On the US segment of the station, NASA astronaut Don Pettit said he smelled something akin to "spray paint."As of Sunday afternoon, NASA said there were no concerns for the crew, and that astronauts were working to open the hatch between the Poisk module and the Progress spacecraft. Attached to the space station in 2009, Poisk is a small element that connects to one of four docking ports on the Russian segment of the station.It was not immediately clear what caused the foul odor to emanate from the Progress vehicle, however previous Russian vehicles have had leaks while in space.Most recently, in February 2023, a Progress vehicle attached to the station lost pressurization in its cooling system.Facing financial and staffing pressures due to the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, the main Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, has faced a series of technical problems as it has sought to fly people and supplies to the International Space Station in recent years.Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 25 Comments Prev story

without warning Survivors mark 20th anniversary of deadly 2004 tsunami NatGeo's documentary, Tsunami: Race Against Time, revisits the devastating disaster that killed nearly 230,000 people. Jennifer Ouellette Nov 24, 2024 9:33 am | 5 The 2004 tsunami flooded sea-front houses, destroying everyone in its path in Maddampegama, Sri Lanka. Credit: The Associated Press/Gemunu Amarasinghe The 2004 tsunami flooded sea-front houses, destroying everyone in its path in Maddampegama, Sri Lanka. Credit: The Associated Press/Gemunu Amarasinghe Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIn the wee hours of December 26, 2004, a massive 9.2 earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean, generating an equally massive tsunami that caused unprecedented devastation to 14 countries and killing more than 230,000. Twenty years later, National Geographic has revisited one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history with a new documentary: Tsunami: Race Against Time. The four-part series offers an in-depth account of the tsunami's destructive path, told from the perspectives of those who survived, as well as the scientists, journalists, doctors, nurses, and everyday heroes who worked to save as many as possible.Geophysicist Barry Hirshornnow with Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diegowas on duty at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii that day (3 PM on Christmas Day local time). His pager went off, indicating that seismic waves had set off a seismometer in Australia, and Hirshorn rushed to the control room to locate the quake's epicenter with his colleague, Stuart Weinstein.They initially pegged the quake at 8.5 magnitude. (It was later upgraded to 8.9 and subsequently to a whopping 9.2 to 9.3 magnitude.) But despite its strength, they initially did not think the quake would generate a tsunami, at least in the Pacific. And such events were incredibly rare in the Indian Ocean.Hirshorn and Weinstein also lacked any real-time sea level data that would have told them that a massive amount of water had been displaced by the movement of two key tectonic plates (the India and Burma plates). Four hours later, the first tsunami waves hit Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, leaving a path of destruction and death in their wake. Geophysicist Barry Hirshorn on the lack of an tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean. Credit: National Geographic What sets this new documentary apart is the emphasis on the survivors' harrowing stories. Veteran surfer David Lines, for example, was living in Banda Aceh at the time with his wife Nurma. They managed to outrun the tsunami by car, but Nurma lost 30 family members. Journalist and videographer Denny Montgomery faced a similar situation, racing against time to rescue his mother. Zenny Suryawan watched his family get swept away by the tsunami, surviving by clinging to debris. A young mother in Khao Lan was separated from her infant son and had nearly given up hope when she finally found him alive at a nearby hospital.Brothers Theo and Louis Mullanthen 11 and 15 years old, respectivelywere on holiday with their parents in Khao Lan, Thailand when the tsunami hit. The brothers tried to hold hands and run to safety, but were swept away and separated. They later reunited, but lost both parents in the disaster. Several tourists and beachgoers ended up stranded on a day trip to Emerald Cave in Ko Muk Thailand, including Olivia Soo and her entire family, who were still inside the cave when the tsunami hit; her mother later succumbed to her injuries. In Sri Lanka, the tsunami hit a southbound coastal train and knocked it off its rails in what became one of the deadliest train disasters of all time. Eranthie Mendie lost her mother on that train.There are also plenty of inspiring stories of everyday heroes rising to the occasion at great risk to themselves. For instance, a group of locals helped rescue an infant from the water in Banda Aceh. Cut Putri recalled filming the raging tsunami from the second floor of her home and helping save a man who was washed into the house the force of the flow. A police lieutenant risked his life to set on a jet ski to rescue the Emerald Cave tourists, including Olivia Soo and her family. A bellboy in a Thai hotel rescued several hotel guests from the rushing waters, while a tourist in Phuket rescued an elderly man whose wife had been swept away. And a Sky News cameraman named Phil Hopper helped rescue a young boy in Indonesia who survived on his own for 21 days in the aftermath of the tsunami. Survivors walk across debris in the aftermath of the tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Hotli Simanjuntak Survivors walk across debris in the aftermath of the tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Hotli Simanjuntak Water and debris surround Banda Aceh's Grand Mosque. Hotli Simanjuntak Water and debris surround Banda Aceh's Grand Mosque. Hotli Simanjuntak Charles "Chip" McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, cut his Christmas holiday short when the devastation hit. National Geographic/Brandon Widener/Nick Kubrick Charles "Chip" McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, cut his Christmas holiday short when the devastation hit. National Geographic/Brandon Widener/Nick Kubrick Water and debris surround Banda Aceh's Grand Mosque. Hotli Simanjuntak Charles "Chip" McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, cut his Christmas holiday short when the devastation hit. National Geographic/Brandon Widener/Nick Kubrick A resort in Phuket, Thailand, on January 11, 2005leveled by the December 26 tsunami. The Associated Press/Richard Vogel A survivor clears debris from a destroyed building in Sri Lanka. The Associated Press/Ed Wray Holiday houses destroyed on Phi Phi Island, Thailand. Picture-Alliance/dpa/The Associated Press Hundreds of lanterns are released during a January 19, 2005, memorial service in southern Thailand. The Associated Press/Apichart Weerawong Then there were the overwhelmed doctors and hospital stuff working tirelessly to save as many victims as they could. A nurse and her doctor husband were on a research boat when they heard about the tsunami; that boat quickly became a makeshift hospital for the injured in Koh Phi Phi. Cici Romain was on holiday with his girlfriend, Rachel Hearson, and the two were separated by the waters. He used his minimal medical experience to lead a triage station with fellow survivors while Hearson searched for him.From a scientific standpoint, there were several factors that contributed to the devastation of the 20024 tsunami. NOAA had just deployed six Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys, but only three were operational. So the scientists at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, including Hirshorn, had no real-time sea level data, and hence no way of knowing that tectonic plate movement in the Indian Ocean had triggered a powerful tsunami. So Hirshorn and his colleagues failed to release an early warning to the affected areas. Most notably, there was no warning system in place for Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives, and Sri Lankaonly in the Pacific Basin. Even if the scientists had been able to issue an early warning, there was nobody to send it to.Also, back in 2004, scientists typically estimated a tsunami's strength by the magnitude of the triggering earthquake. That turned out to be incorrect: a bigger earthquake does not necessarily produce a bigger tsunami. It also requires huge amounts of data in order to model tsunamis correctly and there isn't much time to do so when seconds matter. The tragedy fueled global investment in tsunami research. There are now 60 DART buoys worldwide and with more data, tsunami models can run in seconds, before a tsunami can hit, thereby saving many lives. Barry Hirshorn explains why an 8.5 quake is so much more powerful than an 8 magnitude quake. Credit: National Geographic We're come a long in the last 20 years, according to Hirshorn. "This event produced a revolution in seismology," he told Ars. "Now we can say that we have a magnitude towards the beginning. There's more and more stations. So instead of an eight-minute page like we had back then, we have a page at two or three minutes. Plus we're supposed to always have someone now on duty at the warning center who's supposed to be in the operations room. They will come in, locate the earthquake, using much more data, better results to estimate the magnitude."Hirshorn is one of several scientists who worked to develop a new method of estimating magnitude that incorporates Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data as well as seismic data. "It's called a focal mechanism," he said. "So we'll know if we're dealing with a strike slip, sideways-slipping earthquake, or a tsunami-producing thrust event that moves water above the upward bound plate. That information is critical to add to the magnitude. It's being implemented now. This method will tell you that it's a 9.1 within two minutes. Instead of waiting for 24 hours to know it's greater than a nine, they'll know in five minutes."The tsunami models are also much better because there is so much more data. "They give you much more accurate results and they've been modified so they can tell you what's going on when they hit dry land," said Hirshorn. "It's always been a little difficult to determine how far a tsunami is going to 'run up' onto the coast given certain coastal bathymetry." Hirshon was on duty at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii when the 20024 earthquake hit. Credit: National Geographic/Charlie Laing/Alec Davy The other major advance in the last two decades is much, much better and faster finite fault solutions, per Hirshon. "The tendency is to think of an earthquake as a point source, which is a bad assumption, especially when you're close to it," he said. "When you get close enough to an earthquake, if you're like, for example, Sumatra, maybe you're 50 or 100 kilometers away from the trace that slipped, but it slipped over a thousand kilometers. It slipped over a length the size of California. You're getting your tsunamis not from that point, but from all the points along the fault that slipped. That kind of information is very helpful and with the GPS data combined with the seismic data, we're getting this information within 10 minutes."Hirshorn admits that marking the 20th anniversary of such devastation is deeply sobering, but finds solace in the fact that such milestones tend to make people more receptive than usual to helpful messaging concerning safety. While earthquake early warning systems have come online the US along the west coast, he has some advice for people living in coastal areas prone to earthquakesand hence risk of tsunamis."The earthquake early warning should get to you before the shaking, but if you don't get that, take the shaking as your warning," Hirshorh said. "But remember the shaking may not be strong, so look for duration. If it's not strong and you're there on the coast, look for long periods that last 30 seconds or more. If you feel that again, go inland. It might be real, it might not be, but there's a chance, so just head inland and start walking uphill. I'm not dissing warning systems, but if you've got an earlier warning, why not take it and potentially save your life?"Tsunami: Race Against Time premieres on National Geographic on November 24, 2024, and will also stream on Disney+.Tsunami: Race Against Time provides a 360-degree view into the heart-stopping events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior reporter at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 5 Comments Prev story