London: Modern science is well on its way
to gauge human emotions, with scientists in Britain developing
what they call is a "fear detector" which can smell human fear
found in sweat.
A team at the City University London is working on
the unique device which relies on a technology that recognises
a pheromone, or scent signal, produced in human sweat when a
person is scared.
And, according to the scientists, the "fear detector"
will make it possible to identify individuals at check points
who are up to no good.
Terrorists with murder in mind, drug smugglers, or
criminals on the run are likely to be very fearful of being
discovered -- however, calm they might appear on the surface,
their bodies could give them away, they said.
"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 Daily Telegraph' quoted team leader Prof
Tong Tun as telling 'The Engineer' magazine.
Although the research is at an early stage, the aim is
to develop a prototype device in the next two to three years,
the scientists said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 02, 2009, 18:26