Super sniffer: quick I.D. of suspicious chemicals.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET OF THE LATEST GADGETS - Brief article

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Soldiers and first responders who require rapid identification of unknown airborne chemical agents have another tool in their respective arsenals. A portable Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy device is now available from Ahura Scientific of Wilmington, Mass.

Called the TruDefender FT, the 3-pound detector, which can fit in a cargo pocket, does its job quickly, the company says.

"Timely and accurate substance identification in the field is critical," says Matthew Farr, a homeland security...