Scientists create laser that ‘smells’ like a hound
Scientists have created a laser which may eventually be used as a human breath test to screen for serious illness.
University of Adelaide researchers have created a laser that can “smell” different gases within a sample.
The researchers liken the ability of the laser to differentiate between different gas compounds in a sample to the sensitive nose of a bloodhound. But rather than smell, the device uses patterns of light absorption to measure the composition of the sample.
Applications for the new device lie not just in environmental monitoring and detecting industrial contamination, but may eventually be used to diagnose disease by 'smelling' the breath.
How it works
Main image: PhD candidate Sarah Scholten and Dr Ben Sparkes from the University’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).