Scientists create "nanodog" to sniff out danger

A team of scientists at the University of Wales recently revealed that they've developed a new type of bomb-detecting sensor using nanotechnology, branding the tech with the too-cute-for-its-own-good "nanodog" moniker. As with most things nanotech, the nanodog promises to allow for devices to be both smaller and more effective than current technologies, apparently able to detect explosives at levels in the one part per trillion range. And, like it's K-9 counterpart, the sensor can apparently detect explosives even if they're concealed, which should no doubt lead to less invasive, and hopefully speedier airport searches in the future. Of course, depending on who you ask, the nanodog might not exactly turn out to be man's best friend.

[Via Fark]

[Keith L. Dick @ Jul 27th 2006 8:43AM]

Considering how Dogs love to stiff peoples crotches I hope they can *Ween* this trait out of the Nano Puppies...

Great Idea and I hope it works in the end...

[Rob @ Jul 27th 2006 9:44AM]

I just hope they keep the nanodogs focused on bombs, and don't have them start sniffing for other contraband.

[Blake @ Jul 27th 2006 10:12AM]

makes me wonder how sensitive this is. If, for instance, I happen to be wearing a shirt maybe I've fired a gun while wearing before, and there's gunpowder residue on there, or maybe just fired fireworks or done a little chemistry experiment at home with the wrong sorts of chemicals. Is it gonna think I'm gonna have a bomb?

personally I'm sick of all this security, I refuse to fly, not because I'm scared of terrorists on planes, but because I'm afraid I'll be mistaken for a terrorist.

[Brian @ Jul 27th 2006 11:00AM]

This article is full of it. Go to the linked website. Other storied on the "news" page are full of sensationalism -- "man-dog cloning will revolutionize the future" etc. It's tabloid journalism. Notice the article on nanodogs does not mention how the technology works besides briefly saying something about enzymes (which can only work in liquids by the way!). How is detection accomplished? Electrical measurements, optical transduction, fluorescent dyes, etc?? What is the delivery mechanism? I'm sure these researchers have a nice sensor, but this is sensationalized.

[David Lowe @ Jul 27th 2006 3:43PM]

Why invent so many 'security' things? It's simple, America, don't terrorize other countries, so the other countries won't be terrorizing you.

[Rob @ Jul 27th 2006 4:14PM]

Blake,

The only people that should be worried about being mistaking for a terrorists is a terrorist. I hope you get caught and go to jail. What are you planning to do? Should I move from the DC area?

[Greg @ Jul 28th 2006 7:02PM]

Rob, wait until the day when you've been randomly selected to have "SSSS" placed on your boarding pass every time you fly, for no particular reason, then get back to us on that opinion. I believe Benjamin Franklin put it best: "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."