Google Earth is an app, formerly known as Keyhole EarthViewer, that renders a 3D representation of Earth-based primarily on satellite imagery and now it is getting its biggest update in years with the addition of one new layer: time.

The new update brings a feature called Timelapse that lets you see how the planet is changing over the years, (duh) gathering millions of satellite images from 1984 to 2020.

The visuals are stunning and some terrifying, you get to experience mindblowing content as well as the waning forests and global warming on the planet via a timelapse.

It took more than two million processing hours across thousands of machines in Google Cloud to compile 20 petabytes of satellite imagery into a single 4.4 terapixel-sized video mosaic — that’s the equivalent of 530,000 videos in 4K resolution! And all this computing was done inside our carbon-neutral, 100% renewable energy-matched data centers, which are part of our commitments to help build a carbon-free future.

Watch how Nairobi has changed over the years from space below:

To try out Timelapse for yourself,  head on over to Google Earth here. If you’re like me and don’t want to go around searching for key locations, the company has also amassed hundreds of Timelapses on this YouTube playlist.

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Nigel Jr.
As a tech enthusiast and expert, Nigel Jr. is dedicated to providing in-depth and insightful content on all things technology. With a background in online journalism, product reviewing, and tech creation, Nigel has become a trusted source for all things tech.

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