Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment · 27 January 2026

Scientists use earthquake sensors to track falling space debris in real time

Exam-focused facts from the 27 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • A study led by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and Imperial College London (ICL) shows seismometers can trace re-entering space debris by detecting sonic-boom shock waves.
  • More than 120 seismic stations across California and Nevada recorded vibrations from the 1.5-metric-ton Shenzhou 15 orbital module re-entry on 2 April 2024.
  • Analysis revealed descent speeds between Mach 25 and Mach 30, altitudes of 80–150 km, and a shallow one-degree entry angle.
  • Seismic data indicated a cascading break-up lasting about two seconds, increasing chances that dense fragments reach Earth’s surface.
  • The technique, published in the journal Science, improves emergency response by locating debris within minutes rather than weeks.

View this story in the full daily briefing

Earlier coverage selected by topic similarity to help connect developments over time.

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