Portable Microscope Detects Bacteria Using Holograms

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, recently developed a portable microscope that detects bacteria using holograms, an invention that promises to have far-reaching effects in the developing world and telemedicine. The handheld device costs less than $100 to build. Rather than optics, the device relies on a digital photo sensor, common in iPhones, to magnify images of bacteria in water, food or blood. The microscope also spots hard-to-detect E. coli, a culprit for gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections and neonatal meningitis. For now, the microscope captures raw data in the field, which then must be uploaded via cell phone or laptop for processing by a more powerful computer, explains this BBC News report. The inventors anticipate that a portable microscope could prove useful for health care workers in remote areas and help prevent the spread of disease. – YaleGlobal