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Pocket-Sized Lab's Killer App: Analyzing Illegal and Semi-Legal Drugs
- darawk 10y agoIt is, in my opinion, almost impossible to overstate the significance of this. This is a huge deal. Being able to analyze the surrounding environment at a molecular level, in a relatively cheap (it's still kind of expensive, but i'm sure it'll get cheaper) way will enable an enormous new fleet of apps. Being able to quickly ascertain which pesticide residue is on the fruit you're buying at the point of sale without relying on an agency or intermediary. That's huge. Worried about counterfeit prescription drugs ordered online? Not anymore. There are so many interesting, valuable applications of this kind of technology. This is really exciting.
- DKnoll 10y agoHaving something like this accessible to harm reduction groups could save a lot of lives lost due to fentanyl overdose, which is currently epidemic in North America. On the other hand, groups switching to this method from traditional chemical reagent tests would basically be building evidence for the police to use against them by creating digital records of exactly what chemicals they had in their possession (even briefly) and when. Legally, posession is posession, even if you're at a festival trying to save some kid from OD.