New 'breathalyzer' could detect signs of disease in human breath, scientists say

Scientists at the University of Chicago created a new device intended to detect disease biomarkers in air samples. (Image credit: Bozhi Tian, University of Chicago)

A new breathalyzer-like system could one day detect illnesses by spotting biological markers in the air we exhale, researchers report.

The hope is that this could simplify medical diagnoses by making health monitoring as simple as breathing into a device, the scientists say. Their prototype device, called the airborne biomarker localization engine (ABLE), condensates airborne molecules into concentrated liquid droplets.