Scientists have dramatically increased the sensitivity of a laser device used to detect minute and easily concealed explosives that are commonly used by terrorists.
Mechanical engineers from the University of California worked to enhance the chemical sensing capabilities of a light-based sensor. By testing its power of detection on various explosives, they found that the improved device could pick up airborne chemicals at concentrations as small as 0.4 parts per billion.
The technology may lead to the development of more sensitive and cost-effective explosive detection methods than the ones currently used.
Read more at University of California, Berkeley