NASA's new "E-Nose" can detect brain cancer cells

NASA's newly developed "E-Nose" device, primarily intended to monitor air quality, has found a secondary function in being able to detect the scent of cancerous brain cells.



Originally designed for air quality monitoring on the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station, this secondary role could be developed into future early detection of brain cancer. Brain Mapping Foundation, City of Hope Cancer Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory are all now investing research to develop technology based on NASA's E-nose that will one day lead to a simple, accurate detection system by "smelling" the difference between healthy brain cells and cancerous ones.