Self-powered 'paper chips' could help sound an early alarm for forest fires
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - 11:44
in Earth & Climate
Recent devastating fires in the Amazon rain forest and the Australian bush highlight the need to detect forest fires at early stages, before they blaze out of control. Current methods include infrared imaging satellites, remote sensing, watchtowers and aerial patrols, but by the time they sound the alarm, it could be too late. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed self-powered 'paper chips' that sense early fires and relay a signal.