Auburn University's Institute for Biological Detection Systems, with a team of veterinarians, chemists and physiologists, is working towards the ultimate detective device: an electronic artificial nose. Such a device would find a host of applications ranging from crime investigation to helping in the detection of drugs. It could even be handy to those in pursuit of murder suspects and burglars and assist food safety inspectors in search of cases of food and water contamination. Ultimately, the device may even find application in the field of human health care. For instance, it could find out whether a woman is ovulating without so much as touching her and help plan her pregnancy.
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