Researchers want people to use an app to help predict earthquakes

(FOX 11) - Are you ready for the next big earthquake?

Researchers want to help warn you of one before it hits and they want your help.

The folks over at UC Berkeley are hoping people download the MyShake Earthquake app, which can give them data about earthquakes from your phone.

"It works best when you have your phone on a stable table," said Richard Allen the director of UC Berkeley's Science Seismological Laboratory. "All smart phones have an accelerometer which tells the phone to send motion whether you're walking or running. We use that data to detect earthquakes. When the earthquake strikes, the accelerometer will send information to our system."

Researchers can then use that data to learn more about earthquakes. And in the future, they hope to warn people further away from the epicenter that an earthquake may be on its way any second.

The app was just unveiled Friday. Right now it's only available on Android phones.

Researchers are calling it a citizen science project because thousands of people can potentially contribute to their research.