News From IEEE Spectrum
- by Greg UyenoBrain science can be messy, even when no one’s skull is getting opened up. The common noninvasive technique of electroencephalography (EEG) reads electrical activity of the brain through the scalp. Many EEG setups involve conductive gel and a tangle of electrodes and wires that contribute to noisy data, producing so-called motion artifacts when the person […]
- by Eliza StricklandMany people who have spinal cord injuries also have dramatic tales of disaster: a diving accident, a car crash, a construction-site catastrophe. But Chloë Angus has quite a different story. She was home one evening in 2015 when her right foot started tingling and gradually lost sensation. She managed to drive herself to the hospital, […]
- by Dina GenkinaQuantum sensors take the biggest roadblock for quantum computers—unwanted interference, or noise—and turn it into a strength. Noise wrecks quantum computers because the quantum states they use for computation are affected by the slightest disturbances from the environment. But quantum sensors use those disturbances to detect minuscule changes in magnetic and electric fields. Amanda Stein, […]
- by Liam CritchleyScientists and engineers have long touted graphene for use in electronic devices due to its excellent electrical conductivity, optical transparency, mechanical strength, and its ability to conduct heat and to remain stable under high temperatures. Graphene’s use in electronics at the commercial level, however, is still limited. That’s in part because it’s much harder to […]
- by Michelle HampsonThis article is part of our exclusive IEEE Journal Watch series in partnership with IEEE Xplore.Bats’ skill with echolocation—pinpointing prey on the wing and in the dark—has long been a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers, resulting in advances that include novel medical devices for the visually impaired and sophisticated radar systems. Now researchers […]
- by Matthew S. SmithModern technology collects vast amounts of data from sensors, with one estimate projecting global data from Internet of Things devices at about 73 zettabytes (or 73 trillion gigabytes) in 2025. And as more data are collected, the infrastructure required to store, transfer, and run compute on that data also grows. But what if, instead of […]
- by Alfred PoorThe ability to detect a nearby presence without seeing or touching it may sound fantastical—but it’s a real ability that some creatures have. A family of African fish known as Mormyrids are weakly electric, and have special organs that can locate a nearby prey, whether it’s in murky water or even hiding in the mud. […]
- by Edd GentFarming in India is tough work—and it’s only getting tougher. Water shortages, a rapidly changing climate, disorganized supply chains, and difficulty accessing credit make every growing season a calculated gamble. But farmers like Harish B. are finding that new AI-powered tools can take some of the unpredictability out of the endeavor. (Instead of a surname, […]
- by Liam CritchleyOdors are all around us, and often disperse fast—in hazardous situations like wildfires, for example, wind conditions quickly carry any smoke (and the smell of smoke) away from its origin. Sending people to check out disaster zones is always a risk, so what if a robot equipped with an electronic nose, or e-nose, could track […]
- by Kohava MendelsohnVolcanic eruptions can be fast, deadly, and destructive. That’s why every bit of data counts when predicting them.Sensing company INFICON, based in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, has developed the first portable helium sensor that can withstand a harsh volcanic environment. They’ve deployed it to monitor Vulcano and Stromboli, two volcanic islands in Italy. The hope is […]
News from AZoSensors
- New gas sensor technology can use visible light for selective gas discrimination, promising advancements in environmental monitoring and safety devices under lower power use.
- Researchers say a lightweight UAV can “smell” its way to an odour source indoors, relying on a minimal sensor setup and a reproducible simulation-to-real system.
- This new sensor demonstrates exceptional acetylene-detection sensitivity with a simple fiber-splicing design, which could make it suitable for challenging operational environments.
- A suspended chalcogenide waveguide achieves record ppb-level gas detection in the near-infrared, enhancing sensitivity for portable environmental monitoring.
- This bioinspired ammonia sensor uses engineered water droplets for fast, stable gas detection, overcoming limitations of traditional solid-state sensors.
- Quantitative determination of Al(III) using a carbon sensor reveals accurate measurements in real samples such as soft drinks, pharmaceuticals, and biological fluids in health studies.
- The new sensor array detects key VOCs in cooked rice, correlating aroma profiles with quality, and creating a route to intelligent food monitoring.
- Gold on indium oxide enhances ozone sensing at room temperature, which could improve gas sensor design for real-time environmental monitoring.
- Fraunhofer's innovative mobile gas chromatography system allows quick detection of volatile organic compounds, crucial for food safety and quality assurance.
- Real-time ammonia monitoring using IoT sensors in cereal fields provides valuable data for optimizing fertilization practices and reducing nitrogen losses.