TIME selects novel muon navigation system as one of year’s best inventions – Earthquake Research Institute, the University of Tokyo

The muometric wireless navigation system (MuWNS), which uses particles from space called cosmic-ray muons to enable navigation underwater and underground, has been selected as one of TIME’s 2023 Best Inventions. Invented by Professor Hiroyuki K.M. Tanaka from Muographix at the University of Tokyo, evidence of the system’s capability was first published by Tanaka and his collaborators in June 2023, and rapid improvements have taken place since then. The media company TIME announced its selection for this year’s Best Inventions list on Oct. 24, 2023. The yearly published list highlights 200 inventions which TIME recognizes as solving compelling problems in creative ways.