FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE聽|聽October 01, 2013
New American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网 video on the world鈥檚 most sensitive explosive detector to date
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2013 鈥� A new American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网 (ACS) video focuses on the world鈥檚 most sensitive explosive detector to date. Known as FIDO, the handheld detector has been used to detect roadside bombs in Iraq, as well as in homeland security operations and airport security. The video, the latest episode in ACS鈥� Prized Science series, is available at www.acs.org/PrizedScience and on DVD.
鈥淒ogs are the gold standard [for explosive detection]鈥� but they have some limitations,鈥� explains Tim Swager, Ph.D., winner of the 2013 ACS Award for Creative Invention for his work on the device. The award is sponsored by ACS Corporation Associates. 鈥淔IDO has comparable sensitivity to a dog, and sometimes detects things that a dog might miss鈥� Seeing FIDO used by the military in Iraq in the darkest hours when we were finding lots of bombs 鈥� that was really important.鈥�
Swager, a professor of chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explains that the detector is able to 鈥渟niff鈥� the air and pick up very low concentrations of explosive vapors. He and his team are investigating other potential uses for this sensor technology, including medical diagnostic devices that could detect pathogens or cancer tumors in patients.
ACS encourages educators, schools, museums, science centers, news organizations and others to embed links to Prized Science on their websites. The videos discuss scientific research in non-technical language for general audiences. New episodes in the series, which focuses on ACS鈥� 2013 national award recipients, will be issued periodically.
The 2013 edition of Prized Science features renowned scientists telling the story of their own research and its impact and potential impact on everyday life. Colorful graphics and images visually explain the award recipient鈥檚 research.
The ACS administers more than 60 national awards to honor accomplishments in chemistry and service to chemistry. The nomination process involves submission of forms, with winners selected by a committee consisting of ACS members who typically are technical experts in the nominee鈥檚 specific field of research.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网, contact newsroom@acs.org.
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The American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网 is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
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