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Device Sniffs Out Signs of Life After Disasters
MTorrice writes "With every breath, people exhale a plume of chemicals. Now German researchers have developed a method to quickly and easily detect this chemical signature of life with a portable device. The team hopes that the approach can help firefighters and other first responders find people trapped inside rubble after earthquakes, terrorist attacks, or other calamities."
Had to do a double take on that one, my first reading was
"Device Snuffs Out Signs of Life After Disasters"
I've always thought dogs did a really great job of that.
Scan the debris for life-signs.
Sir, we've detected the stench of several human survivors... From the smell, French I'd say... Eh, Jean Luc?
Intriguing, there is a 87.391% probability the remains are of a cargo ship;
The wreckage seems to be covered in some form of condiment,
and the flames are producing an odor signature similar to pork barbe--
That's ENOUGH, Data!
Cynically, I think that adding 'terrorist attack' to the list might just be to greatly aid the chances of getting some sweet, sweet government money. Earthquakes and simular natural disasters achieve an annual victim count that outnumbers terrorist attacks by a few orders of magnitude, but governments seem so much more eager to publicly spend money on counter-terrorism.