Cell phones have increasingly become mobile labs and tech tools for researchers, and now NASA has gotten in on the act. A postage-stamp-sized chemical sensor allows iPhones to sniff out low airborne concentrations of chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine gas and methane.
A puff from a “sample jet” helps sense any airborne chemicals. That information gets processed by a silicon chip consisting of 16 nanosensors, and then passes on to another phone or computer through any Wi-Fi or telecom network.
PopSci (thanks, ReliegiousMarie)
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Mobile phones are becoming more and more like Tricorder’s…
Beam me up!
Wow! Interesting concept, but how would NASA or other interested parties go about in implementing this in the iPhone? Extensive hardware modifications or an add-on?
So doesnt that basically turn an Iphone into a Tricorder?!
Where can I buy 1?
Not really as interesting when you list it as “man creates chemical sensor add on for iphone”
My iPhone is goin to tell me the age old question. Imagine the app…….iFart
Ammonia? Methane? So basically it helps to know weather somebody pissed or farted. Finally something useful…..
I wonder if the apple store will allow this app, or deny it on the basis that it infringes one of their own development :p It should easily detect the amount of smug bs that swarms the mouths of many (not all of them) yuppie mac product owners.
the new smart phones are great but they’re taking it to quick – most of them can’t cope with all the new info – they keep crashing, which is extremely furstrating.
Wonder what else it could be set to sniff..?
I don’t have and never will have an iPhone, iPod or mac.
They could give me one free and I’d just sell the damn thing.
(No offence intended to owners of such items, you’re all entitled your choice and opinions on them).
Pax, amor et concordia.
x
I agree with Tash. I have a Blackberry Storm which can’t cope with my constant tweeting! It’s like there’s too much info etc, for the phone to take & it needs rebooting daily.
Would they need to do some sort of upgrade to allow this with a normal iPhone? (bear with me, I don’t know too much about iPhones).
LC x
Very practical … when you go out on a date and need to check your breath … (Is it drop dead gorgeous?)
“through any wifi or telecom network” so “iphone” is just in the title to garner more attention? This is more of a phone itself than an add on for any existing phone.
I thought Apple said that modding/hacking the iPhone was copyright infringement?