TED Talks Daily Can dogs detect the next pandemic before it begins? | Glen J. Golden
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Sep 19, 2024 
Neurobiologist Glen J. Golden explores the remarkable abilities of dogs in detecting infectious diseases with their acute sense of smell. He discusses the development of a 'mechanical nose' to analyze air odor profiles, aiming to revolutionize disease detection. Golden reveals the innovative training methods used to prepare dogs for this crucial task and highlights their success over traditional methods in identifying diseases like bird flu. The potential for these furry allies to act as early warning systems for future pandemics is both exciting and inspiring.
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Mechanical Nose for Disease Detection
- A "mechanical nose" could detect diseases by identifying specific odor profiles.
- This could help stop pandemics by identifying infections before symptoms appear.
Avian Influenza Impact
- The avian influenza virus devastated chicken populations and impacted egg prices.
- Current testing methods are slow and inefficient, highlighting the need for rapid detection.
Building a Mechanical Nose
- Developing a mechanical nose is complex due to the intricate mammalian olfactory system.
- Studying how dogs smell diseases in wildlife can inform the development of this technology.