WKOW-TV, Madison channel 27 broadcast, March 2003. Professor Robert Hamers, UW-Madison Department of Chemistry Professor Hamers: ... chips are typically made on glass substrates ... Narrator: Ask any scientist ... Professor Hamers: ... heavy biomolecules ... it depends on what concentration ... Narrator: It may be difficult to understand ... Professor Hamers: ... rapid degradation ... the sampling ... it's a long answer (laughs). Narrator: ... but the technology is cutting edge. Professor Hamers: ... so thin you hardly can even see it ... Narrator: Inside this chamber is the key to detecting a bioterror agent, like anthrax. Professor Hamers: What we have in the chamber is a very, very thin coating of diamond. Narrator: Wha, wha, what was that? [rewind] Professor Hamers: ... is a very, very thin coating of diamond. Narrator: That's right -- a diamond, thinner than paper, and it could soon pave the way to bioterror prevention. Professor Hamers: The anthrax incidents of about a year and half ago really highlighted the need for making sort of a new generation of biological sensors that are able to detect a very specific biological agent ... Narrator: That's exactly what UW Professor Robert Hamers is developing -- a device, similar to a cell phone, that constantly sniffs out potentially harmful bioagents. Sound far-fetched? Hamers says, not at all. Professor Hamers: When it saw a hazard, it would be smart enough to recognize it, identify it, and essentially radio in almost like a distress call that would go to first responders ... Narrator: It would be particularly useful in settings like airports, sporting events, or concerts. And believe it or not, the technology isn't that expensive. But Hamers says price shouldn't matter. Professor Hamers: It's clearly a security issue, where you would almost pay anything to have it work. Copyright 2004 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System Date last modified: Wednesday, 7-Jan-2005 4:25:00 CST Date created: Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004 11:19:00 CST