‘Robo-nose’ could replace sniffer dogs

Washington: Scientists have developed an artificial “robot nose” device made from living mouse cells that could be used instead of dogs to sniff out narcotics and explosives. The researchers from Duke University in the US developed the prototype based on odour receptors grown from the genes of mice that respond to target odours. “E-noses” that exist now use various chemical compounds to detect smells instead of receptor stem cells, said Hiroaki Matsunami, a professor at Duke. PTI

Indian-American elected president of Harvard student body 

Washington: An Indian-American woman has been elected as the president of the powerful student’s body of the prestigious Harvard University. Sruthi Palaniappan, 20, whose parents migrated to the US from Chennai in 1992, was elected as president of the Harvard University Undergraduate Council. Her running mate Julia Huesa, 20, was elected as vice-president. Palaniappan said the duo planned to work on improving the council’s communication with the student body in their initial days in office. Palaniappan was the youngest delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July 2016. PTI