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Electronic Nose Could Put Sniffer Dogs Out of Business

by Peter Mychalcewycz on August 4, 2008 at 10:44 AM

the look

Scientists are developing an electronic nose that could be used in a myriad of situations to detect drugs, bombs and other nasty stuff. The invention could spell the end for sniffer dogs, who may become obsolete once this flashy new technology hits the market.

The electronic nose, or 'doggy dream killer,' as we like to call it, will be able to sense a "smell at extremely low concentrations ranging from parts per billion to parts per trillion and will be able to detect dozens of different odors." The nose will be made up of a thin film formed out of zeolite, which is a substance used in petroleum refinement. The film will capture gas molecules, (which create smell) and that information will be processed by sensors and computer software to identify just what the smell is.

Sure, it can do all that, but can it pee on the lethal substance once it detects it?

We thought not! [Source: CNN]





Tags: dogs, pets, security, smell

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