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'Fear detector' to trace terrorists
Scientists are developing a "fear detector" that could help trace anxious terrorists at security check points.
The prototype of the device, which depends upon recognising a pheromone - or scent signal - produced in the sweat of a nervous person, is expected to be developed in the next two to three years.
Scientists at City University London hope the security sensor system will help identify terrorists, drug smugglers or criminals on the run with the smell of their body secretions, even if they succeed in feigning a calm appearance.
Professor Tong Tun, who is leading the project, told The Engineer magazine: "The challenge lies in the characterisation and identification of the specific chemical that gives away the signature of human fear, especially the fear in relation to criminal acts."
The team will look at potential obstacles to reliable detection such as the effects of perfume, and natural differences between individuals.
Last year scientists at Stony Brook University in New York, who studied the underarm secretions of 20 terrified novice skydivers, provided evidence that smell of fear is real.
The US researchers also revealed that people appear to respond unconsciously to the sweat smell of a frightened person.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
That's a nice idea...BUT...what happens if a person is nervous and sweating because they're afraid of flying? Will they be categorized as terrorists too?
There are a million other reasons why a person might be nervous and sweating ( it doesnt even have to do anything with flying).
If they do an extra search for all the people who are nervous before getting on a plane, they might as well just add 30 minutes to the waiting time before boarding.
Hopefully they'll be able to distinguish between terrorist sweat and normal sweat :) (Probably not going to happen)
Just my two cents.
Max
Posted by: Maximilian | 11/05/2009 at 09:03 AM