Electronic nose. “Electronic nose” was created by scientists from Russia What is needed to create an electronic nose

Any young family with a baby should have a nasal aspirator for sucking out snot in their home medicine cabinet. The device will help clean the nose of a newborn or infant, which is necessary to normalize the baby’s nasal breathing.

Nasal aspirator for newborns and infants: the benefits of a device for cleaning the nose from harmful accumulations

A nasal aspirator is a simple device designed to clean a child’s nose from accumulated dust, mucus and crusts.

The process of formation of a certain amount of secretions is completely natural for the human body. The liquid moisturizes the nasal cavity and acts as the first barrier to viruses and bacteria that cause various diseases. Excessive secretions and dust make it difficult for the baby to breathe. Dry indoor air also negatively affects the condition of the mucous membrane - the resulting crusts cause rhinitis.

Problems with nasal breathing interfere with sleep and normal feeding. In addition, this can provoke disruption of gas exchange and cause hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply), which negatively affects the functioning of the entire body.

The accumulation of mucus and the inability to independently cleanse the nasal passages lead to the fact that the secretion enters through the internal auditory tube into the cavity of the middle ear, and the child develops otitis media. The appearance of rhinitis requires medical intervention and prescription medicines

, and this is extremely undesirable for children of this age, since it is almost impossible to choose safe means. The baby’s nose should be cleaned daily, and since the baby cannot yet do this on his own, the aspirator will become an indispensable assistant

for young parents.

There are several types of mucus suction devices on the market, although the principle of their operation is almost the same. Before purchasing a “nozzle suction”, it is better to consult with your pediatrician or health visitor. They will tell you which device is right for your baby.

1. A syringe is the simplest and cheapest option. It is a regular rubber bulb with a silicone tip. Cleaning of the spout occurs due to the pressure difference that is formed during compression. After use, the tip must be boiled.
2. Mechanical - have the form of an elongated tube with a reservoir for sucked mucus. The Otrivin baby model is especially popular among parents. Saline solution with drops helps clear the nose of accumulated mucus and has a preventive effect. The nasal aspirator is equipped with replaceable tips that are thrown away after use. Some manufacturers produce reusable aspirators or models with replaceable tips.
3. Electronic ones will not only remove mucus, but also rinse the baby’s nasal passages. All you need to do is insert the tip into the spout and press the button.
4. Vacuum is a fairly powerful and fast method of removing mucus from the nasal passages. The device appeared on the market not so long ago. A special feature of the device is that it needs to be connected to a regular vacuum cleaner through a special attachment. After use, removable tips are disinfected.

Types of nasal aspirators for pumping out mucus from the nasopharynx - gallery

The syringe is a rubber bulb with a soft tip. The electronic aspirator is battery-powered and can be musical, which kids really like. A mechanical aspirator in the form of an elongated tube with a reservoir for mucus. A vacuum aspirator instantly sucks out mucus; you can adjust the strength and speed of suction

Pros and cons of devices for sucking snot in babies

Each of these types of aspirators has its own advantages and disadvantages:

• a syringe effectively removes mucus, is sold in every pharmacy and is inexpensive. However, there is no limiter on the tip; it must be inserted by eye, so there is a possibility of damage to the mucous membrane of the nose. In addition, the pear is opaque, which does not allow assessing the success of the procedure;
• mechanical aspirators are transparent, so you can easily determine how the process of mucus suction occurs. They are easy to use: the tip is inserted into the nasal passage, and the adult takes the other end into the mouth and draws in air. The mucus remains in a special reservoir, which is thrown away after use. The tips are quite soft, so the risk of damage to the mucous membrane is minimal;
• electronic devices are considered the safest and most effective. The tip has a stopper that will prevent it from being inserted too far into the spout. The transparent reservoir shows the amount of mucus and its color. In addition, you can use it to rinse the spout with solutions, and its compactness allows you to take it on travel. The only negative is enough high price device and fragility;
• The advantage of a vacuum aspirator is that you can clean the baby’s nasal passages in a matter of seconds. Despite the strangeness of the connection, the device is considered absolutely safe.

Most parents prefer to use a whole integrated system: drops of Otrivin baby and aspirator. The droplets have a softening effect, and the aspirator clears the nose of accumulated mucus.

Attention! The Otrivin baby system has a shelf life of 5 years.

Is it possible to clean the nose with cotton swabs?

• the size of this hygiene item is too large for the baby’s nasal passages;
• an inexperienced mother can insert the stick very deeply, which will lead to damage to the mucous membrane;
• Cleaning the nose in this way causes discomfort in the child.

Video: How to clean your nose with the Otrivin Baby nasal aspirator

Using an aspirator to suck out mucus at home: how often can the product be used

Regardless of which type of aspirator you purchase, you should adhere to general recommendations on its use:

• read the instructions;
• Before first use, all removable parts should be sterilized;
• Don’t get carried away with cleaning your baby’s nose too often, as this can lead to drying of the mucous membrane and a decrease in its protective properties. Doctors recommend cleaning your nose every day before going to bed;
• if you are afraid to use an aspirator, you need to ask your health visitor to demonstrate how to properly suck out mucus from a baby;
• After use, all parts that came into contact with mucus are disinfected.

Step-by-step instructions for clearing thick mucus and dry crusts from the nose of an infant: depth of insertion of the aspirator, use of drops

What to do if you have problems using the sucker: blood from the nose, anxiety of the baby

Proper use of the device usually does not cause problems. If during use the baby bleeds or has blood in the discharge, it is likely that the nasal mucosa was injured by the tip of the device.

To stop bleeding, the baby's head is tilted forward, and the affected nostril is lightly pressed against the nasal septum.

To soften dry crusts and thick mucus, the use of saline solutions is recommended. However, you should be careful about the amount of liquid administered, since there is a possibility that it will get into the throat, which will cause a coughing attack in the child and a negative attitude towards the procedure.

If the baby cries during the procedure, you should not torture him. Perhaps you are doing something wrong and causing him pain. Do not forget that all manipulations should be carried out gently, talking to the baby in a gentle voice.

To prevent dry crusts in your baby's nose, use a humidifier. It will maintain the humidity in the room at required level(30–60%) and will protect the child from unwanted health problems.

Video: Doctor Komarovsky on choosing an aspirator for a small child

A nasal aspirator will help new parents clean their baby's nose without any problems. The device will not only remove the accumulation of mucus, dust and dried crusts, but will also provide timely assistance in eliminating rhinitis and preventing the development of dangerous diseases.

Israeli engineers from the Center for Nanomaterials Research at Tel Aviv University and the School of Chemistry have created an “electronic nose.” The new product of Israeli scientists is 2-3 orders of magnitude more sensitive to various explosives than the nose of man's four-legged friends - dogs. According to the published report, the “nose”, invented in Tel Aviv, is a chip containing several hundred ultra-sensitive sensors. It is these sensors that are responsible for detecting explosive molecules in the air.

It is reported that the chip of the Israeli novelty contains nanotransistors that are able to change electrical conductivity when just one explosive molecule comes into contact with them. Based on the smallest changes in the electrical conductivity of installed nanotransistors, a mathematical algorithm developed by scientists analyzes the substance interacting with the nanotransistors. According to Israeli scientists, the device they presented, if mass produced, will cost less than existing ones. this moment explosives detection systems.

At the same time, exact information about the sensitivity of the created chip is not provided, but it is said that it is able to operate at a concentration of even several molecules of explosive per quadrillion molecules belonging to other gases. In this case, the search for explosives is carried out in real time. According to Israeli engineers, the electronic chip is able to successfully differentiate explosives from other substances that may give a positive result during other tests.

In addition, the sensors installed on the chip are able to detect improvised explosive devices, which can use unconventional explosives. The "electronic nose" is reportedly able to detect hexamethylene triperoxide diamine or acetone peroxide, substances that are quite common in improvised explosive devices. At the same time, the Israeli chip, unlike many other explosives detection systems, can determine the type of explosive with very high accuracy. It is reported that the device from Tel Aviv can also work with liquids.

Similar studies are being conducted today not only in Israel, but also in the USA and Russia. So last October American engineers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee made a statement about the creation of new technology aimed at searching for explosives, both large and low power. The method developed by American scientists uses a phased acoustic emitter, which makes it possible to direct an ultrasonic beam at the object being tested.

At the same time, a laser beam is aimed at the object being tested, which makes it possible to accurately measure the frequency of vibrations of its shell under the influence of ultrasound on the object. Based on the frequency and strength of the vibrations that occur, it is possible with a fairly high degree of probability to identify explosives. However, so far this method only works in cases with explosives that are placed in a plastic container. At the same time, the developers say that in the future the capabilities of the device will be expanded to include a tissue shell.

"Electronic nose" in Russia

Work on the creation of an “electronic nose” is also underway in Russia. Back in March 2013 " Russian newspaper“wrote that in our country an “electronic nose” was manufactured at one of the enterprises. At the same time, the most serious challenges- capture molecules and atoms of matter in the air in order to then determine the presence of hazardous components and various explosives.

This one in highest degree fine work requires the use of a rather non-standard element base. This database was developed specifically for Russia by Belarusian colleagues representing the State Scientific and Production Association “Planar”. This is the only enterprise in the post-Soviet space today that carries out the complex process of development and production of equipment necessary for the production of microelectronic products. Wherein this enterprise teamed up with its Russian colleagues within the framework of the scientific and technical program “Microsystem Engineering” implemented in the union state.

According to Planar General Director Gennady Kovalchuk, one of the main objectives of this scientific and technical program is the creation of a variety of sensors and sensors that can be used in various areas of our lives. For example, they can be used to warn us about all critical changes in oil and gas pipelines, building structures, large mechanisms and machines. Such knowledge would prevent many disasters.

If we return to the “electronic nose,” then its main purpose is to work with prohibited chemicals. Prohibited chemicals are explosives, drugs, and various toxic substances. At the same time, the number of elements included in this unspoken table grows and evolves every year. The composition of the components used is changing, and new production methods are emerging. Therefore, recognizing such substances by traditional means is becoming more and more difficult every year.

Today, a huge amount of budget funds are spent on modernizing control systems at airports, customs and border services, and strategic facilities, and a large amount of new equipment is purchased. Although in an ideal case, only one would be needed, a universal device that could recognize a wide variety of substances, quickly learning and improving itself, would be simple and compact. It seems that Russian engineers can offer the industry just such a device.

It's about about a device called an “electronic nose” that works based on ion mobility spectrometry. According to the associate professor of the Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics of the National Nuclear research university Nikolai Samotaev, this is a fairly compact portable device that is able to identify thousands existing species explosives.

The question arises: why is it necessary to invent such complex devices if a person has a free analogue that was created by nature itself? We are talking about dogs, which, in fact, are the same gas analyzer due to their very developed sense of smell. A dog's nose contains about 200 million olfactory cells, which allows this animal to find even just a few molecules of the desired element in the air. But even such a unique natural complex is not an ideal bloodhound.

Nikolai Samoteev notes that when training an animal, he is given an explosive to smell, rewarding the dog with something tasty. If a dog remembers that a tasty gift awaits him for finding explosives, he will spend his entire life looking for it. It is difficult for an animal to rebuild from this mission purely psychologically. Modern devices are a completely different matter. The “electronic nose” device is designed in such a way that once you bring a particular substance to the device and press the “remember” button, you are guaranteed to leave all of it in its memory. necessary information, which will be stored in the device throughout its operation.

The very principle by which a small device with a thin plastic proboscis will work was introduced back in the 1960s. This technology was mainly used in the army in biological and chemical protection. Today, thanks to the very rapid development of microelectronics, such a device no longer takes up a third of a truck. Modern devices not only weigh no more than 3 kilograms, they have become incredibly sensitive. Current instruments can easily show the presence in the air of nitroglycerin, RDX, nitrotoluene, C4 explosives and one of the most common explosives in Russia - hexogen.

Moreover, the devices can detect not only explosives, but also drugs even in the most microscopic doses. If necessary, the devices can also recognize people, since a person also has his own smell, and this is not the smell of his perfume, but the smell of lactic acid. It is this smell that the dogs used by the Ministry of Emergency Situations in search and rescue operations are trained to smell. If a person is buried under rubble in a tight, enclosed space, his smell gradually accumulates in this space. This smell will definitely seep through the rubble. This is another field of activity for the “electronic nose”. If a sample taken from a crevice in the rubble contains lactic acid, then you should look for a person under the rubble.

Moreover, in our country the device was not created for search operations at all. This is a kind of side effect of its creation. The initial task of the device is to protect the strategic facilities of the Rosatom company. It was for this reason that the National Nuclear Research University worked on the device.

Information sources:
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/07/25/nose
http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=1164303
http://www.rg.ru/2013/03/14/kibernos.html

“Electronic nose” was created by scientists from Russia

What is the sense of smell and nose for a person?

The sense of smell, or smell, plays a significant role in human life. Thanks to the smell that our nose smells, our mood may change, our appetite will increase or even disappear altogether, and it may also warn us from danger. Many people who exist in the world of sales sometimes play on the sense of aroma, thanks to which we can become interested in products. But unfortunately, the nose is an underrated organ in human nature. Despite this, there are scientists who are developing the qualities of our nose in electronic format, and this is what we will talk about today.

Artificial nose idea.

An electronic nose is an electronics-based device that is used to detect odors and study them.

Similar devices began to exist in 1982. The electronic nose was created as an electronic device to imitate the human olfactory organs. It consists of several blocks: a sampling system, a detector block and a signal processing block.

The working principle of an artificial nose.

To begin the analysis, the nose needs to undergo the so-called training. He will have to recognize several odors in the electronic version, so that he can then have something to compare the tested odors with. Next, this device can carry out analysis by comparing the results of the sensors with the results that were previously entered into it. Since odors often originate from new molecules, errors can occur and scientists need to recalibrate the instrument. The concept of an electronic nose is not eternal and requires constant attention and support.

Areas of operation of the electronic nose?

The electronic nose can be used in research laboratories(1), quality control laboratories and production laboratories(2) to:

1). View storage conditions for important gases and chemicals. So that the same characteristics of a particular substance are observed in each batch. Detection of falsification, spoilage of products or contamination of the storage environment of substances. By the way, this also allows you to weed out low-quality and unscrupulous suppliers of raw materials.

2). Controlling cleanliness and contamination in work environment. Influence production process and atmosphere for products. Checking raw materials for quality and reliability. Comparison with a product that is a reference.

Scientists are also considering the prospects for the development of an electronic nose, such as: monitoring the quality of food for the population, detecting natural gas and very dangerous and harmful bacteria. As well as the ability to determine lung cancer and other serious diagnoses in patients.

Opening of Saratov University.

Electronic noses are not a new discovery. Typically, these are nanofiber-based sensors that are very sensitive to the environment in which they are placed. They very accurately identify odors and enter them into their database, supposedly remembering them. Unfortunately, they cannot work permanently. After just a couple of weeks, the electronic nose malfunctions and needs to be reconfigured.

Scientists from Saratov, together with their colleagues from Kyrgyzstan and Germany, have created an electronic nose that accurately recognizes gases and impurities, and at the same time, is a durable model.

Specialists of the State Technical University named after Yu.A. Gagarin in Saratov, for a very long time they thought about the dilemma of how to make electronic noses more reliable in operation and came to a common opinion. They realized that all failures depend on changes in gases and impurities in the air. Scientists came to the conclusion that a process of “additional training” is needed for the system to work smoothly. This process occurs in the following way: the nose is provided with new smells, which it remembers and adds to its database or adds to an existing digital database. This prevents the electronic nose from going astray every few weeks and eliminates problems such as calibration for scientists.

According to Viktor Sysoev, one of the authors of this project, only the team from Saratov Technical University managed to create such a model, which has been working properly for more than 8 years; by the way, no one has ever achieved such a result among the creators of artificial noses.

Scientists also stated that if this prototype of an electronic nose passes all the final tests that the team has prepared for it, based on it, scientists will be able to create an electronic nose that will accurately detect gases and impurities, and will also serve its purpose for a long time.

We may be living in an era where the electronic nose will bring enormous benefits to occupational safety and health. This will allow us to more closely monitor the quality of products, medicines and other chemicals. It will also improve the quality of raw materials supplied to production, thereby improving the quality of the products themselves.

Determining what a person is sick with, tracking down and identifying a criminal, noting the presence of a microscopic amount of harmful gas in the air and many other operations can be performed by an electronic nose, which the American scientist Andrew Dravnix is ​​working on. There are already machines that see, hear and touch significantly better than man. But when it comes to creating an apparatus that copies the work of the olfactory organs, science is far behind. And if an artificial nose is created that surpasses the human ability to smell, then a wonderful world of new possibilities will open up before us.

It has been proven that some diseases are characterized by a special effect, apparently associated with an imbalance in the chemical balance in our body. Thus, a certain smell often accompanies the late stages of cancer and diphtheria. In one experiment, rats were trained to identify schizophrenics by smell caused by changes in metabolism.

Diagnosis of the disease by smell is now even more rare. This is usually possible only when the disease has progressed significantly, and even in this case the doctor must have a keenly trained sense of smell and an extremely great experience work.

The olfactory apparatus will be able to detect, differentiate and recognize special odors absolutely accurately, and the olfactory abilities of such an apparatus are completely unfamiliar with the phenomenon of “fatigue” of the senses. Dr. Dravnix argues that thanks to the olfactory apparatus, medical diagnosis can become extremely simple, and, most importantly, the disease will be detected at an early stage.

Sniffer dogs have long proven that each person has a special smell (with the exception of twins, who seem to share one smell between them). An artificial nose in the future will give investigators the ability to create a special classification of human odors in the same way they created a classification of fingerprints. By turning on the device in the room where, say, a murder was committed, it will be possible to find out who was in this room, in addition to the victim of the crime. Even if the criminal has destroyed all traces, his own smell will give him away.

However, Professor Dravniks notes that the use of the “nose” in technology looks much more realistic. Here its potential capabilities are quite wide. In the production of perfumes, an artificial nose will be much better than expert engineers in monitoring the production process and product quality. The device will also find application in Food Industry. He will notice the beginning of food spoilage and adapt the smell of certain products to the tastes of consumers. For organizations that deal with toxic materials, the nose will be able to detect dangerous toxic leaks in time.

In interplanetary spaceships, submarines, airplanes rising to great heights, in any cramped room and where air access is limited, the “nose” can warn about the degree of air pollution.

However, the creation of such a perfect device is a matter of the future. So far, Dravnix has managed to create a device that distinguishes only three odors. Odor carriers are vapors of organic substances. The artificial nose mechanism determines their quantitative content in the air by measuring changes in the electrical potential of the surface of the substance that absorbs organic vapors. These changes are recorded on an oscilloscope and measured with a precision potentiometer. Dravnix cataloged various but constant changes surface potentials for vapors of acetone, thiophene, pyridine. Now his device is able to indicate the presence of even small quantities of these substances in the air.

P.S. What else are British scientists thinking about: that someday electronic noses will become a common part of our everyday life, we will use them, they (like any other household appliance) will break down, we will take them for repairs household appliances(a good repair service can be found on the website http://rem-bot.ru/), and the manufacturer will issue a warranty on the noses.

Oriental spices, sandalwood bark and a little fruit - this is Addict, a classic Christian Dior fragrance. Here's what Carven's Ma Griffe smells like: cut grass, fresh leaves and flower buds. It is not easy to distinguish all these notes the first time and without a hint - you need a well-trained nose. Or high technology.

The Portuguese chemist Alirio Rodrigues compiled descriptions of famous perfumes without straining his sense of smell at all. A computer connected to a complex system of sensors tasted perfumes for the scientist. So Rodriguez tested his method of automatic aroma analysis in action. The tests were successfully completed several months ago, and now, the chemist claims, his invention can greatly facilitate the work of perfumers.

Rodriguez is not the only one who has managed to develop an “electronic tasting” system. Over the past few years, researchers have learned to create devices that closely mimic the functioning of the human olfactory and gustatory systems. It is no longer only scientists who are involved in testing; winemakers have begun to participate in experiments.

Here's how they taste scents in Rodriguez's lab: First, the chemist carefully draws eau de toilette or perfume into a syringe and injects it into the receiving hole of the device. For the experiment you need very little liquid - one tenth of a drop hanging on the tip of the needle is enough. The sample enters a special chamber, where it quickly heats up and forms vapor. Then a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer come into play - instruments for precise chemical analysis. They allow you to find out what exactly and in what proportions perfumers added to their product. And then - pure mathematics.

The database of the computer that controls the analysis contains information about the smell of thousands of substances often used in perfumery. The Portuguese chemist took the data from catalogs compiled by specialists from perfume companies. Knowing the smell of each ingredient, you can calculate what aroma the entire mixture will have. You just need to take into account the peculiarities of the human sense of smell.

“Even a very good expert can identify at most three or four of the brightest components in a complex odor,” explains Rodriguez. “They determine the aroma.” The nose perceives all other components as minor nuances. This is what the Portuguese chemist uses. Rodriguez's know-how is a computer program created in his laboratory. It calculates which substances make the greatest contribution to the smell of perfume. Here you have to take into account not only the proportions of the ingredients, but also their Chemical properties, such as volatility. As a result, the computer produces a description of the aroma in the form of short definitions: “citrus”, “herbal”, “floral”. These estimates do not differ much from the opinions of experts.

Analyzing the aroma of well-known perfumes is the first steps. Using the new method, it is possible to obtain the characteristics of completely new combinations of aromatic substances. To do this, it is not necessary to prepare the mixture itself - just enter the list of components into the computer and indicate the proportions. “Perfumers create new scents through expensive trial and error,” says Rodriguez. “With the help of virtual tasting, you can quickly select the most suitable recipes, and then work with them the old fashioned way, by hand.” The chemist admits that a computer is not yet able to completely replace a person. The need to constantly refer to catalogs created by experts is the weak point of an electronic perfumer.

In the laboratory of Israeli neurophysiologist Noam Sobel, they are working to teach technicians to evaluate odors completely independently. Sobel and his colleagues are testing an “electronic nose,” a device that simulates the functioning of the sense of smell. This device is a set of miniature chemical sensors that react to organic substances present in the air. Now such devices are used to detect drugs and explosives. Israeli scientists are going to search for new aromas using an electronic nose. To do this, they taught the device to imitate human tastes. A group of 56 volunteers acted as a role model.

Scientists asked laboratory visitors to smell test tubes containing 123 different chemicals and rate their sensations on a special scale. The smells in the experiment were very different. “I tried them all on myself,” says Rafi Haddad, one of the authors of the project. “The essential oils from citrus plants smelled the most pleasant.” The most disgusting thing Haddad had to smell was pure valeric acid. The smell is very reminiscent of two things - “rotten cheese and dirty socks.”

After people gave the substances their ratings, the samples were given to the device to “sniff.” Haddad and Sobel discovered a simple pattern - one group of sensors responded to unpleasant odors for humans, and completely different ones to pleasant ones. Scientists took this observation and wrote for an electronic nose new program. Now it gives ratings even to odors that it has never encountered before. For example, the device definitely won’t like rotten fruit or acetone, but strawberries will.

Scientists are confident that their system is ready for practical use. The use of such devices will speed up the development of aromatic substances many times over. Chemists are constantly synthesizing new components for perfumes. Perfumers simply do not have time to evaluate them all. “An expert might work on aromatic samples for two to three hours and then need a long rest,” Haddad says. “Automatic analyzers can evaluate odors 24 hours a day.”

From use high technology It's not just perfumers who can benefit. Electronic tasters can make life easier for wine connoisseurs. Portuguese chemist Jose Marques is sure of this. He adapted an analyzer of the chemical composition of liquids for tasting Madeira. The device detects organic substances in wine that form during the maturation of the drink. Now an electronic taster can determine the age of Madeira with an accuracy of 1.8 years. This is just the beginning. “The next challenge is to teach the device to predict what will happen to ripening wine in the future,” says Marques. For now, only very good specialists. “An experienced taster only needs to taste young wine once, and he will tell you what it will taste like in a couple of decades,” says the chemist.

Márquez is conducting his research together with the association of Madeira exporters - Madeira Wine Company. The scientific approach to tasting intrigued not only the Portuguese. “Several well-known producers of French cognac have already contacted us,” says Marques. “They asked us to send our work for review.”

The electronic tongue that Marquez uses in his work can be easily adapted for a wide variety of drinks. “All that is needed is to replace some of the sensors,” explains chemist Alisa Rudnitskaya, one of the creators of the device. She began working on the device in St. Petersburg state university, and then moved with development to Portugal. “In Russia there was no way to find an investor for the project,” she explains. “And here we are already preparing for the commercialization of the device.”

Electronic tongues and noses hold great promise, says American chemist and wine specialist Bruce Zucklein. “In the future, automatic analyzers will be used to control the origin of wine - for example, to find out in which region the grapes from which it was made grew, and what variety it was.” All this is now done by professional tasters, but they have their drawbacks. “Even the best experts are subjective in their assessments,” explains Zucklein. “The great advantage of electronics is that they are impartial.” Zucklein now works for the Virginia state government and oversees wine production throughout the region. But he also has his own scientific developments. A few years ago, Zucklein adapted an electronic nose to detect the best time to pick grapes by smell. “This idea came to me as a child - I loved wandering through the vineyards then,” the chemist recalls. “You know, when the berries ripen, their aroma completely changes!” Winemakers have been eyeing Zucklein's research for a long time - some even allowed him to conduct experiments directly in their vineyards. One of these producers is the American winery Pollak Vineyards. The results of the experiments of businessmen are impressive, but they are not yet in a hurry to adopt electronics. “Probably, it’s all about the specifics of this industry,” says the scientist. “You won’t find more conservative people in the world than winemakers!”