Nanosensor Helps Pick Out the Poisoned Apple

New nanotech-powered device can detect trace amounts of pesticides on fruit

Flame nanoparticle deposition was used to produce robust nano-sensors that can detect pesticide residues on apple surfaces within minutes. Credit: Artwork by Haipeng Li and Georgios A Sotiriou.

You bought that apple from the organic aisle of the grocery store. So it should be safe to bite into without washing, right? A new nanosensor takes the guesswork out of food safety, detecting pesticides on fruit in a matter of minutes.