Researchers from the University at Buffalo in the US have developed a low-cost chemical sensing chip that can detect cocaine in the body within minutes. The chip could be integrated into a handheld, portable device for detecting drugs taken by drivers. Drugs would be detected in biological samples such as blood, breath, urine or spit. It could provide on the spot results, much like an alcohol breathalyser. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, was published on May 7 in the...

Israel says it launched a missile strike that hit almost all of Iran’s military infrastructure in Syria in response to an alleged rocket attack by Iran on Israeli-claimed territory Golan Heights late last night. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) fired around 70 missiles into Syrian territory during raids, according to Russia’s defence ministry. “Twenty-eight Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft were used in the attack, which released around 60 air-to-ground missiles over various parts of Syria....

DARPA is one step closer to demonstrating the airborne launch and recovery of multiple unmanned aerial systems (UASs) as it enters the final phase of its Gremlin programme. The programme’s goal is to develop technology that can recover multiple low-cost, reusable UASs—known as gremlins—from the air. A recent flight test at Yuma Proving Ground showed a successful, safe separation and captive flight tests of the hard dock and recovery system. “Early flight tests have given us confidence we can...

Scientists in Russia have developed a sensor that can quickly detect harmful oxalate ions in food products and in field conditions. Oxalates, which are the salts of oxalic acids, can cause liver stone disease to develop when present in high levels. Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) have developed a material and a dye agent that can identify these oxalate ions by simply touching the sensor to the food sample. The material, a modified silicon-titanium gel deprived of its...

Mining for cyryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin is estimated to use 0.5% of the world’s electric energy by the end of 2018, according to financial economist and blockchain expert Alex de Vries. The study, published in the 16 May edition of the journal Joule, is reportedly the first rigorously peer-reviewed article that quantifies Bitcoin’s energy requirements. “To me, half a percent is already quite shocking. It’s an extreme difference compared to the regular financial system, and this...