Tiny 'Lab-on-a-chip' Detects Pollutants, Disease And Biological Weapons
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 22:35
in Biology & Nature
For centuries, animals have been our first line of defense against toxins. A canary in a coalmine served as a living monitor for poisonous gases. Scientists used fish to test for contaminants in our water. Even with modern advances, though, it can take days to detect a fatal chemical or organism. Until now. Working in the miniaturized world of nanotechnology, researchers have made an enormous -- and humane -- leap forward in the detection of pollutants.