SensNews Nov 2017

15 Sensor100 November 2017 Environment Feds to test chemical-weapon sensors at Oculus transit hub The Department of Homeland Security will install experimental sensors designed to detect chemical weapon attacks inside the Oculus transportation hub as part of a year-long project to test the effectiveness of the new gas-sniffing gadgets. Reported by: Downtown Express November 22 GM plants to form basis of hazardous substance sensors The Advanced Plant Technologies (APT) programme, launched by DARPA, aims to develop “robust, plant-based sensors that are self-sustaining in their environment and can be remotely monitored using existing hardware”. Plants are highly attuned to their environments and naturally manifest physiological responses to basic stimuli such as light and temperature, but also in some cases to touch, chemicals, pests, and pathogens. DARPA’s vision for APT is to modify these natural sensing and response mechanisms so the plants respond to selected chemicals, pathogens, radiation and even electromagnetic signals in such a way that the plants’ ability to thrive in the environment is not compromised.The result would be sensors that are energy independent, stealthy and easy to distribute over a selected area. Reported by: The Engineer 2 2 November TheWorld Trade Center transportation hub, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is under construction,Thursday, June 25, 2015 in NewYork. OneWorld Trade center towers over the site. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)