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Handheld DNA detector

A portable DNA sequencer could aid environmental scientists, clinicians, and medical researchers in detecting genetic disorders. A new type of electronic device, the ion-selective field-effect transistor (ISFET), is being integrated into a DNA biosensor to measure changes in conductivity.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Nanotechnology·DateMar 10, 2008

See what you're spewing as you speed along

Researchers have developed a laser-based device to measure carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane emissions directly from vehicle exhausts. This technology has the potential to monitor emissions in real-time, enabling drivers to adjust their driving style and reduce pollution.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalApplied Optics·DateAug 5, 2007

Graphene sniffs out dangerous molecules

Researchers have created graphene-based devices that can detect individual molecules of a toxic gas, offering potential applications for detecting hidden explosives and deadly carbon monoxide. The discovery was made by Dr Kostya Novoselov and Professor Andre Geim at the University of Manchester.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 29, 2007

Reducing the cost of sleep disorders

The project aims to develop a cost-effective solution to reduce the financial burden of sleep disorders on the Australian healthcare system. The new web-based intelligent decision support system will enable more accurate diagnoses and help determine if a night at the sleep centre is necessary.

Flexible electronics could find applications as sensors, artificial muscles

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed flexible electronic structures that can bend, expand, and manipulate devices, paving the way for applications in sensors and artificial muscles. These structures were created by forming single-crystalline semiconductor nanoribbons in stretchable geometrical configurations.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry·DateApr 2, 2007