AN ULTRASENSITIVE infrared camera is the latest weapon in the fight against
breast cancer. The device senses infrared radiation caused by tiny temperature
fluctuations in the skin around tumours, making it particularly useful for early
tumour detection and avoiding the X-ray exposure needed for conventional
mammography.
Developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, the
camera uses sensors called quantum well infrared photodetectors
(New Scientist, 17 February 1996, p 23).
These can detect temperature changes as small as 0.015 °C.
“Anything at room temperature glows at around 8 or 9 micrometres,” says
Sarath Gunapala, who led the team…
