Cosmic Rays Could Revolutionize Underground Navigation and Disaster Response

Scientists have developed the world's first underground "GPS" system, called the muometric wireless navigation system (MuWNS), which uses cosmic rays to triangulate the position of a receiver buried deep beneath the ground. The technology can be miniaturized to fit inside devices such as smartphones and could be used to monitor volcanoes and aid in future search-and-rescue missions. Unlike GPS, which is weaker at higher altitudes and gets scrambled underground, only some muons are stopped by solid objects, enabling scientists to harness the constant cosmic downpour to map the interiors of otherwise inaccessible places.