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Blue Crab Nanosensor to Fight Terrorism

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the crabs-have-joined-up-have-you dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "A substance found in crab shells called chitosan has very useful properties. For example, it has been used in bandages to stop bleeding. But now, researchers at the University of Maryland have used the chitosan from blue crabs living in Chesapeake Bay as a component of a nanoscale sensor system which could save many lives in the future. These blue crab nanosensors will be used to improve security in airports, hospitals and other public locations by detecting tiny amounts of explosives or chemicals in air and water. Read on for additional references and pictures of these blue crab nanosensors."

4 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Fights Terrorists, Not Terrorism by kfg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hey, those nano bombs can sting!

    What do you bet the end result of this is going to be nothing more than a shitload of innocent people getting put on "The List" because of false positives?

    There's such a thing as over measurement.

    KFG

  2. necessity is the mother of invention? by SuperBanana · · Score: 3, Interesting

    These blue crab nanosensors will be used to improve security in airports, hospitals and other public locations by detecting tiny amounts of explosives or chemicals in air and water.

    Because after all, we've had such a huge problem with explosives and "chemicals" in airports, hospitals, and "other public locations"...

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    Please help metamoderate.
  3. Save us from what?? by lostngone · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Will ths magic substance stop people from highjacking a phine with a box cutter and flying the plane into a building? I'm getting sick and tired of the these people telling us it will make us safer as they take more and more of our rights away. I know, if they lock all of us up in prison the Government can make sure we are safe 100% of the time.

  4. Re:Fights Terrorists, Not Terrorism by greenhide · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Mod this guy up. This was my first impression on reading the post (IHNRTFA). Unless there's been some recent resurgence in the bay depending on crabs from the Chesepeake for any kind of solution is not really sustainable.

    On the other hand, maybe this is the only way to get the government interested in saving the Chesepeake Bay ecosystem. :-)

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    Karma: Chevy Kavalierma.