Yeah, I’m yoinking the segment from Colbert, but he’s got a good idea.

Tip of my hat to Bio Optics World. At some point there was a laser focus world blurb on the stability analysis paper, which got published, but never really showed up anywhere I saw. Today, I found this article that cites that article and talks about the paper. So, definitely very cool.

*snark* Which brings me to, Wag of my finger to… Bio Optics World. While they did talk about the paper, I had to scroll to the bottom of the page to find the blurb about the stability stuff. Really, Bio Optics World? Bottom of the page? Thanks… obviously blurbs about finding causes to transplant deaths and raman spectroscopy are SOOO much more deserving of those precious top slots on your webpage */snark*

Actually… that stuff is pretty cool. You’re forgiven Bio Optics World… this time. Here is the link to that page:

Bio Optics World

The fourth blurb in that article is actually REALLY cool. These scientists developed something called, “Optical Comb Spectroscopy”. No details on how it works or any links to science journals, but evidently it can analyze the composition of breath samples. Some quick google searching finds an article that describes the optical comb aspect. The breath sample sits in the space between two mirrors and pulsed laser light is bounced back and forth in that cavity, a lot, such that the light pretty much has a chance to interact with every molecule in the cavity (which includes the ones in your breath). Thus, the spectrum of light that comes out will show the results of those interactions.

Idea makes a lot of sense, and I can certainly see how it would work. Perhaps now breathalyzers can be used to detect more than just how many beers I’ve had in the last few hours.