Currently, when scientists want to know if bacteria are present in water, they have two main choices. They can take a sample to the lab, where they’ll try growing the suspected bacteria in it, and then count the number of resulting colonies to determine the concentration. Or, they can analyze it using expensive lab-based gas chromatography or mass spectrometry equipment. Now, however, researchers from Seoul National University have developed a “bioelectronic nose” that could be used on location, and that is reportedly more sensitive than existing techniques.
via Gizmag
