Students invent self powered toxic sensor

. Student Scott Ramsay said: “The research involved engineering a microbe that detects toxic chemicals, like those resulting from oil and natural gas refineries. When the microbes detect the offending chemicals they synthesise a chemical causing the fuel cells to generate electricity that can trigger a signal to act as an early warning system. “It could be also integrated into a wireless early warning communications systems leading to a network of analytical stations in rivers, lakes and wells allowing industry to measure the amount of toxins in effluent so they can keep within environmentally safe and legal levels. The technology could also be further developed to detect pesticide levels, for example, pesticides in baby food or toxins in drinking water. “Our sensor won the first prize in the Environment section of the International Genetically Engineered Machine awards”. The competition involved teams from universities around the world designing and building genetically engineered devices over the summer and culminated in an event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, where 53 teams from 20 countries presented their research to an international set of judges. The University of Glasgow is now looking to secure funding to develop the sensor further. For more information: http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_56846_en.html