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Sensor100
April 2017
Glowing Bacteria Detect Buried Landmines
Researchers remotely detect buried landmines using fluorescent bacteria encased in
polymeric beads illuminated by a
laser-based scanning system.
The need for safe and efficient tech-
nologies for detecting buried land-
mines and unexploded ordnance
is a humanitarian issue of immense
global proportions.About half a
million people around the world are
suffering from mine-inflicted injuries,
and each year an additional 15 to 20
thousand more people are injured
or killed by these devices. More
than 100 million such devices are
still buried in over 70 countries.
Researchers from the Hebrew Uni-
versity of Jerusalem now report a
potential answer to this need. The
system is based on the observation
that all landmines leak minute quantities of explosive vapors, which accumulate in the
soil above them and serve as markers for their presence.The researchers molecularly
engineered live bacteria that emit a fluorescent signal when they come into contact
with these vapors.This signal can be recorded and quantified from a remote location.
The bacteria were encapsulated in small polymeric beads, which were scattered across
the surface of a test field in which real antipersonnel landmines were buried. Using a
laser-based scanning system, the test field was remotely scanned and the location of
the buried landmines was determined.This appear to be the first demonstration of a
functional standoff landmine detection system.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ,April 23
The potential application of a system developed at the
Hebrew University to remotely detect buried land-
mines using a bacterial sensor.
(Photo credit: Hebrew University)