Smartphone Earthquake Warnings

Guest: Craig Glennie, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Houston whose research focuses on creating more available earthquake warning systems around the globe A powerful 7.8 earthquake shook the mountainous nation of Nepal on Saturday, leaving entire villages flattened, toppling buildings in Katmandu and causing an avalanche on climbers attempting to summit Mount Everest.  The death toll is nearly 4,000 people and climbing, as rescue efforts continue. Could any of those lives have been saved with even a few minutes of warning before the tremor hit? Developed countries like Japan and the US have invested millions of dollars in early earthquake detection and warning systems. But scientists at the US Geological Survey and several universities believe smartphones might provide a viable alternative for poorer countries like Haiti or Nepal.