Times Union: Technology senses a whiff of scents

Times Union: A research group led by UAlbany Distinguished Professor Eric Block is are part of a team that found the most acute sense of smell in mammals, specifically mice, is tied to the metal copper. This research led the group to file for a patent on copper-based sensors that one day could create more sensitive tools for detecting things like gas leaks, explosives, and chemical warfare agents or help a doctor find evidence of a hidden illness from traces of chemicals carried on a patient's breath.