Researchers use fruitflies’ noses to develop crime-fighting sensors

Sniffer dogs search for drugs and bombs, while bees have been trained to detect explosives, but what about a sniffer fly? The “nose” of the fruitfly is is so sensitive that it can identify odours from illegal drugs and explosive substances almost as accurately as it can detect the smell from wine.

Fermenting fruit, including grapes used for wine, is the fruitfly’s favourite food, but scientists were surprised to discover that fruitflies can also smell other things.

Brain scientist Prof Thomas Nowotny, who works at the University of Sussex, says that fruit flies have 20 different receptor neurons that can sense 35 chemicals related to hazardous materials.

His long-term goal is to “recreate” animals’ noses by identifying and reproducing the sensors, putting dogs and bees out of a job.