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Scientists have developed a paper sensor that can detect impurities in drinking water.
The paper sensor contains biodegradable components that can generate an electric signal. When exposed to contaminated water, the electric signal changes to indicate that the water is unsafe to consume. According to its creators from the University of Bath, United Kingdom, the paper sensor is expected to be sold at $1 each. It only weighs less than a gram and is environmentally friendly.
In the meantime, they are looking for ways to wirelessly connect the sensor to an electronic device to make it more convenient to use.
According to the World Health Organization, some developing countries use wells and streams as their main source of drinking water. Consequently, over 2.1 billion people are exposed to unsafe water. Hence, the project’s lead scientist, Mirella Di Lorenzo, said that the paper sensor could be a step toward improving water sanitation in those countries.
Aside from that, the sensor could also be used to check the water sources in hotels and during camping trips in remote areas.
Another water-testing breakthrough came from an 11-year-old girl from Colorado, United States. The girl, Gitanjali Rao, invented “Tethys”, a device that can identify lead in water. Lead is a toxic metal that has harmful long-term effects on people, especially children.
Rao won the ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ award for her invention. Tethys is a small device that has built-in sensors to detect lead in drinking water. When submerged in water that contains lead, it transmits a warning wirelessly to a smartphone.