Electronic Nose

Technology

High-sensitivity electro snout sniffs out unsafe food

Though our noses can detect suspicious smells at high levels, they can't discern every scent. Scientists have now developed an “electronic nose” that can pick up on the gases emitted by expired food, which they say is “better than human noses.”

A drone uses the RHINOS (Real-time HIgh-speed e-NOSe) device to detect and measure foul-smelling gases at a wastewater treatment plant in southern Spain

Drones

Drone-mounted electronic nose used to assess wastewater plant odor

Wastewater treatment plants generally aren't known for their nice smell, and they have to be monitored in order to ensure that they're not becoming too stinky. An experimental new system uses an "e-nose" and a drone to do the job better.

Dogs' noses are incredibly sensitive, but electronic devices could be more practical in hard-to-reach disaster zones

Electronics

Scientists develop the smallest, cheapest electronic nose for search and rescue

Scientists have developed what they claim is the “smallest and cheapest” electronic nose for sniffing out people, designed with earthquake and avalanche rescue in mind. The nose detects various substances which would provide the crucial “chemical fingerprint” showing the presence of human life.

KU Leuven researchers have developed an electronic nose to detect pesticides and nerve gas

Electronics

Hyper-sensitive electronic nose sniffs out nerve gas like no other

A team of Belgian scientists has developed what is billed as the most sensitive "electronic nose" yet. The chemical sensor detects pesticides and nerve gases and has a design that could see it integrated with electronics such as your smartphone.