A team of Israeli scientists invented an artificial nose that can sniff out chemical weapons, poisons, and disease-causing bacteria, garnering prestigious awards for the advance.
By United with Israel Staff
Forbes recently recognized a young Israeli scientist named Nitzan Shauloff, naming him to its prestigious “30 Under 30 List” for his contributions to the development of an “artificial nose” with a wide-range of lifesaving applications.
This is not the first award the invention has earned, garnering the Israel Innovation Authority’s Fireplace Award for Applied Research, among others.
Shauloff helped develop the innovative artificial nose in the laboratory of Prof. Raz Yelink, working with a team that used carbon nanoparticles to produce first-of-its kind continuous real-time monitoring of bacterial growth.
The invention works by identifying an “odor imprint” based on the adsorption of gases on nanoparticles and electrical reactions as a result of adsorption.
Machine learning is also used to teach sensors how to identify different gas molecules, with a high degree of accuracy.
Nitzan’s invention can be used for a number of applications, from chemical weapons detection to sniffing out spoiled food.
It can also be used for disease diagnosis, bacterial detection in hospitals, and environmental monitoring of toxic gases, among other applications
“The ability to design and create nanometer particles that are engineered according to the properties you want is what fascinates me most about research,” Nitzan told Forbes, adding, “I think beyond my personal success, it is also the success of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.”