Computers will smell fear

British scientists have launched a project to create the world's first sensor that registers pheromones, which are distinguished by a person in a state of fear or stress. There is a theory that people and other animals somehow feel them, but the electronic pheromone detector still does not exist.

Interestingly, the first experimental evidence of the existence of fear pheromones in humans appeared only last year as a result of experiments funded by the Pentagon (scientific report in PDF format). These results have not yet been confirmed by any other research, but now begin the attempts to design sensors. It seems that science is ready to overtake itself if some area is heavily funded by the military.

The group of Professor Tong San from the University of London for 18 months will investigate the realism of the project, and in case of a positive result, the professor promises to create a sensor prototype in two or three years, writes The Engineer magazine.