Scientists use simple hammers and seismic technology to create global soil health map

In fields across four continents, researchers are tapping the ground with ordinary hammers to unlock secrets about one of Earth’s most critical resources: soil. The innovative Earth Rover Program is using seismology—the same science that detects earthquakes—to assess soil health on a global scale through surprisingly simple methods.

The process involves placing metal plates on the ground and striking them with hammers while sensors capture the resulting vibrations. These create EKG-like waveforms on laptops and smartphones, revealing crucial details about soil composition and health. Co-founder Simon Jeffery, a soil ecology professor at Harper Adams University in the UK, describes seismology as “the science of the squiggle,” referring to the wavy patterns that tell the story of what lies beneath our feet.

Founded by Jeffery alongside geophysicist Tarje Nissen-Meyer and journalist George Monbiot, the Earth Rover Program aims to provide farmers worldwide with cost-effective tools to better understand their soil. This technology could revolutionize how we monitor and maintain soil health, which is essential for food security and ecosystem survival. As Jeffery notes, “If we don’t have soil, then we don’t have the wonderful aboveground ecosystems that the vast majority of us enjoy so much.”

While still in early stages, this ambitious project represents a promising approach to addressing global soil degradation through accessible, scalable technology that could help ensure healthy soils for future generations.