MySQL :
SELECT *
FROM table_name
WHERE table_name.the_date > DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 24 HOUR)
The INTERVAL can be in YEAR, MONTH, DAY, HOUR, MINUTE, SECOND
For example, In the last 10 minutes
SELECT *
FROM table_name
WHERE table_name.the_date > DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 10 MINUTE)