Sensors to find quake survivors

SCIENTISTS have devised sensors to detect breath and sweat which could locate survivors buried under buildings hit by an earthquake or a bomb blast.

The sensors sniff out metabolites, the gassy by-products of breakdown mechanisms, which come from breathing, sweating and urinating.

Dogs can be trained to detect these compounds, but are expensive to train, need frequent rest periods and both animal and trainer are exposed to danger during the search.