Nano Engineered Applications—with help from University of California, Riverside, research—has developed a prototype electronic nose able to detect harmful airborne toxins. The device is currently 4 × 7 inches but eventually will be credit-card-sized, say the Nano Engineered researchers. It uses a multichannel sensor able to detect up to eight toxins, as well as a computer chip, USB ports, and temperature and humidity sensors. The device also includes a Bluetooth radio, which will let it synchronize with a smartphone, and GPS capabilities. Nano Engineered plans to release the electronic nose as a handheld device, a wearable device, and a smartphone. It could have a wide range of applications, including pesticide-level detection in agriculture and security-related detection of bioterrorist or chemical-warfare attacks. Nano Engineered expects to release the product within a year. (EurekAlert)(University of California, Riverside)
