Biometric Updates

• Tiny light-up barcodes identify molecules by their twinkling April, 2019
  An imaging technique could make it possible to peer inside cells and watch dozens of different molecules at once -- by labeling them with short strands of light-up DNA that blink on and off with their own unique rhythm. Though they're all the same color, the technique makes it possible to distinguish as many as […]
• Pin-sized sensor could bring chemical ID to smartphone-sized devices April, 2019
  Engineers have developed a spectrometer so small and simple that it could integrate with the camera of a typical cellphone without sacrificing accuracy.
• CRISPR-chip enables digital detection of DNA without amplification March, 2019
  Researchers have found multiple applications for the CRISPR gene editing technology since it came into use by the scientific community.
• Machines whisper our secrets February, 2019
  Scientists showed they could reconstruct what a researcher was doing by recording the sounds of the lab instrument used. The method accurately detects what type of DNA a DNA synthesizer is making. That means academic, industrial, and government labs are potentially wide open to espionage that could destabilize research, jeopardize product development, and even put […]
• New weapon to combat counterfeit goods: use your smartphone to check for fake merchandise February, 2019
  Researchers have invented a chemical fingerprint that, when used with a phone app, reveals whether a product is genuine or a fake; the fingerprints have been tested and earned a 100 percent success rate.
• Researchers unveil Internet of Things security feature February, 2019
  Integrated circuit designers have developed a new approach for creating secure keys and IDs on Internet of Things (IoT).
• Sensitive sensor detects Down syndrome DNA with blood test during pregnancy February, 2019
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Down syndrome is the most common birth defect, occurring once in every 700 births. However, traditional noninvasive prenatal tests for the condition are unreliable or carry risks for the mother and fetus. Now, researchers have developed a sensitive new biosensor that could someday be used to […]
• Novel laser technology for microchip-size chemical sensors December, 2018
  A special laser system has been developed, using two slightly different frequency combs. This allows for chemical analysis on tiny spaces -- it is a millimeter-format chemistry lab. With this new patent-pending technology, frequency combs can be created on a single chip in a very simple and robust manner.
• Innate 'fingerprint' could detect tampered steel parts November, 2018
  Researchers using magnetic signals have found unique 'fingerprints' on steel, which could help to verify weapons treaties and reduce the use of counterfeit bolts in the construction industry.
• Machine learning masters the fingerprint to fool biometric systems November, 2018
  Fingerprint authentication systems are a widely trusted, ubiquitous form of biometric authentication, deployed on billions of smartphones and other devices worldwide. Yet a new study reveals a surprising level of vulnerability in these systems. Using a neural network trained to synthesize human fingerprints, the research team evolved a fake fingerprint that could potentially fool a […]