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NIST Working On "Deathalyzer"

coondoggie writes to mention that a new optical technique for sensing small amounts of molecules in a person's breath has been developed by a researcher for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The goal is to create a fast, low-cost method for detecting disease. "In this approach, NIST researchers analyze human breath with 'frequency combs,' which are generated by a laser specially designed to produce a series of very short, equally spaced pulses of light. Each pulse may be only a few million billionths of a second long. The laser generates light as a series of very narrow frequency peaks equally spaced, like the teeth of a comb, across a broad spectrum."

6 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Only One Thing To Debug... by Wandering+Wombat · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... the machine keeps declaring that everyone has "Stupidity"...

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    I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
    1. Re:Only One Thing To Debug... by Wandering+Wombat · · Score: 4, Funny

      I believe that sort of deathalyzer is just a mirror held under the corpse's nose.

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      I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
  2. That Guy Sitting Next to Me on the Bus by aquatone282 · · Score: 5, Funny

    . . . this morning - I think he's gonna die real soon.

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    What?
  3. Mostly Dead by DamienRBlack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Officer: I'm sorry sir, the deathalyzer says you're too far over the legal 'dead' limit to be driving. What do you have to say for yourself?

    Passenger: But officer, he can't say anything he's dead.

    Officer: Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do.

    Passenger: What's that?

    Officer: Go through his clothes and look for loose change.

  4. To Blathe! by dsginter · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will this deathalizer tell me if someone is only mostly dead?

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  5. Already exists by nedburns · · Score: 5, Funny

    They better be careful before someone sues for patent violation for detecting "old stench".

    The human nose can detect the particles accurately as you walk through a nursing home or hospital.