May 12th, 2009
The New and Amazing Electronic Nose
The stuff of science-fiction, a device that has the ability to smell, yes smell, out cancerous cells that gives credence to the abilities of dogs to sniff out cancer cells. The noses of dogs are so sensitive they can tell between healthy and cancer cells and with our technology, we have been able to do the same. Researchers at NASA have come up with an electronic nose that has the ability to detect particles from ten to sixty parts per million particles. Designed and tested on the space shuttle to monitor the atmosphere for dangerous compounds that can be life threatening in such a confined space as, well space.
The device was developed for the International Space Station where shifts of space specialists from around the world have been staying for longer and longer periods of time as they try to do science in zero-gravity, a feat quite impossible on the earth’s surface. Space is hostile and with human beings being so fragile,small traces of poisonous compounds in the spacecraft can lead to big trouble. Problems such as leaking waste or failing atmospheric control systems that cleans the air they breathe while living in space, all monitored ans examined by this electronic nose. The technology is so revolutionary scientists are just beginning to examine the ways by which smell can greatly enhance our ability to detect diseased cells. As it turns out, sick cells of the human body really smell different than healthy ones and with such a sensitive gadget, they truly can sniff out the presence of such cells that can lead to non-invasive screening procedures. The nose is under testing and will be coming to a clinic near you, well in the future maybe, for it is still top secret technology that was afterall designed for space.