What we can tell about a person's health by analyzing their breath, and what we can determine about the condition of a fruit crop by the gasses the fruit emit, are important diagnostic tools for doctors and farmers. For many years, scientists have been able to analyze gas emissions to determine how much of certain gasses are present. The problem is the availability of these tests. The ideal time to pick the fruit could easily pass while waiting for the test results. The difficulties are further compounded because the necessary equipment is large, very expensive, and requires highly specialized training.
Availability is just as important in lots of other situations.
Timely results from smoke stack monitors can allow adjustments to be made quickly, instead of waiting hours or days to discover a problem. Soldiers in combat need highly portable, high-speed analyzers to detect toxins in the water supply or in the air. And with more portable and timely analysis of food products, food inspectors can test more food, without slowing down production and distribution while waiting for results. In response to these needs, scientists at the University of Maine's Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology are working on microscopically manufactured surfaces that respond in predictable ways when exposed to certain gas molecules. These microchip-size sensors can detect extremely minute traces of gas within minutes, or even within seconds of exposure.