Breakthrough in MIT's RealNose project could mean artificial noses for all - yay
By Stephanie Patterson 
posted September 30th 2008 4:47PM
posted September 30th 2008 4:47PM
The quest for the ultimate artificial nose is still underway, and thanks to a major breakthrough by the folks over at MIT, it might be sooner than later that we're all unwrapping stylish sniffers under the Christmas tree. More importantly, the fruits of MIT's RealNose project could replace drug and explosive-sniffing dogs as well as detect certain medical conditions via the odors emitted. Up to now, the tricky part of studying the sense of smell has been in isolating proteins (olfactory receptors) to get a good look at how they work. But in this latest development, researchers are now able to produce specific receptors using wheat germ. Engineered mammalian cells can be used to the same effect. What makes this so great is, while the human nose is relatively limited in what it can detect, this discovery could unlock the potential to detect an almost infinite range of odors. G.I. Joe with "action nose" here we come.[Via PhysOrg]
PNAS... seriously?
I was on-site a few months ago and my customer was on the phone and called his software account manager a pecker sniffer. I wonder if he could see the future?
Hey, if they want to show off their PNAS in public then that's what they're gonna do. Just don't expect me to be okay with it.
Yeah, I think the easiest way for most people to read that is "Pee-Nass". The jokes pretty much write themselves.
Now I have Pepsi all over the screen. Thanks. :P
I can't wait to be a cyborg. Sign me up!
My uncle's friend invented the first computer that could "smell".
He went bankrupt.
I bet Dewey Cox is on the edge of his seat.
Something smells funny about this article...i just can't put my finger on it.
one step closer to the smellascope :D
"Good news everyone."
"we are all going to die, and by "we" I mean you."
FISH DON'T STINK!!! UNDERWATER THE FISH DON'T STINK!
'90s cartoon reference for the fail...
I smell discovery!
Poor effort
sooooo . . . how close are we to smell-o-vison?
not far enough away... Can you imagine smelling a Dirty Jobs episode...
Good news, Everyone!
"...this discovery could unlock the potential to detect an almost infinite range of odors." That doesn't sound good.
I'd rather not be able to smell everything in the world. I'm sure there's a lot of things that really stink but we can't smell it. Which is why i like the nose i got
I insist that the picture be changed to Michael Jackson!
:-)
iPhone 3G already does this.
"Strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!"
Finally. I needed a new one.
"...the fruits of MIT's RealNose project could replace drug and explosive-sniffing dogs"
As if the economy wasn't bad enough, now DOGS are losing their jobs as well.
An earlier prototype: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxF5ETDY1U
Holy Cow I'm totally going so fast... AHH FUXCK!
I was thinking about it a few weeks back watching that terminator TV show, how come those advanced robots never have a dog-like smell to sniff humans out for termination, seemed obvious some university would come up with it to add to their arsenal.
If Michael was able to track down little boys with his Janet nose, think about what will happen when he gets this for Christmas. Sorry little boys around the world. It's a good thing I had all girls.