March 21st 2025
Top articles published this week include some of our columns in the most recent Spectroscopy magazine issue as well as more coverage from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Conference.
New Study Shows FT-MIR Spectroscopy Can Authenticate Parmigiano Reggiano Farming Practices
March 11th 2025A new study published in the Journal of Dairy Science demonstrates that FT-MIR spectroscopy can effectively authenticate farming practices and dairy systems in Parmigiano Reggiano production but has limited ability to verify animal welfare parameters.
Rapid, Portable Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy Identifies Aflatoxins in Peanuts
March 10th 2025Researchers have developed a portable mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopic method combined with chemometric analysis to rapidly and non-destructively detect aflatoxin contamination in Aspergillus-infected peanuts. This approach offers a field-deployable alternative to traditional wet chemistry methods, with high sensitivity and specificity in identifying toxic metabolites such as aflatoxins.
Smart Farming Using AI, IoT, and Remote Sensing
March 4th 2025A study by researchers at Universidad de Talca in Chile explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and remote sensing to modernize modern farming. The research highlights how these technologies optimize resource use, improve crop yields, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Transforming Connectivity with a Comprehensive Review of IoT Sensors
March 3rd 2025A recent review by researchers at Nagpur University and Seth Kesarimal Porwal College explores the ever advancing landscape of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its essential components—sensors and actuators. The review paper classifies various IoT sensors and examines their role in integrating the physical and digital worlds to enable smarter devices and enhanced automation.
IoT-based Spectral Sensing Brings Real-Time Grape Ripeness Monitoring to Vineyards
February 26th 2025A team of researchers from the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga, Portugal, has developed an autonomous Internet of Things (IoT) spectral sensing system designed to monitor grape ripening in real-time. The study, led by Hugo M. Oliveira, Alessio Tugnolo, Natacha Fontes, Carlos Marques, and Álvaro Geraldes, was published in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture and introduces a novel approach to non-destructive, in-situ optical monitoring of grape maturity.
Smarter Cities Using IoT with Optical Sensors to Drive Urban Sustainability
Published: February 25th 2025 | Updated: February 25th 2025A new study examines the role of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in fostering sustainable urban development. Through a systematic review of 73 publications, researchers highlight how IoT-enabled sensors improve air quality, transportation, disaster management, and resource efficiency in smart cities.
Smart Farming and How IoT and Sensors are Changing Agriculture
Published: February 24th 2025 | Updated: February 24th 2025Researchers highlight the growing role of Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor technologies in enhancing food security and agricultural sustainability. The study, published in Ain Shams Engineering Journal, explores the applications, benefits, and challenges of smart agriculture, emphasizing the potential of optical sensors in monitoring and optimizing farming practices.
Next-Generation Infrared Sensors: Innovations in Semiconductor Materials and Applications
February 19th 2025A recent study provides an in-depth overview of the latest advancements in infrared (IR) semiconductor sensor technology, highlighting new materials, enhanced detection capabilities, and expanding applications across industrial, medical, security, and environmental fields. The research explores how quantum dots, graphene, and novel nanomaterials are revolutionizing IR detection, paving the way for more efficient and versatile sensor systems.
William Weber Coblentz: American Physicist and Pioneer of Infrared Spectroscopy
February 16th 2025W. W. Coblentz was one of the preeminent researchers in the field of infrared spectroscopy with work spanning a broad range of physics, chemistry, spectroscopic theory, instrumentation, applications, and sample handling. The Coblentz Society was established in his name in 1954 by Norman E. Wright and Van Zandt Williams.
FT-IR Microscopy, Part 2: Mid-IR Sampling with DRIFTS, IRRAS, and ATR
February 14th 2025Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy using reflection methods (diffuse reflection, reflection/reflection-absorption, or attenuated total reflectance) typically requires less sample preparation than transmission. However, optimal results will depend upon the sample and, in particular, the sample surface.
Geographical Traceability of Millet by Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and Feature Extraction
February 13th 2025The study developed an effective mid-infrared spectroscopic identification model, combining principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM), to accurately determine the geographical origin of five types of millet with a recognition accuracy of up to 99.2% for the training set and 98.3% for the prediction set.
Determining the Geographical Origin of Gastroda elata f. glauca
February 12th 2025A new study published in Food Control combines Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and deep learning to accurately authenticate the geographical origin of Gastrodia elata f. glauca, offering a reliable method for geographical indication (GI) verification and fraud prevention in the herbal and food industry.
New Method for Detecting Fentanyl in Human Nails Using ATR FT-IR and Machine Learning
February 11th 2025Researchers have successfully demonstrated that human nails can serve as a reliable biological matrix for detecting fentanyl use. By combining attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy with machine learning, the study achieved over 80% accuracy in distinguishing fentanyl users from non-users. These findings highlight a promising, noninvasive method for toxicological and forensic analysis.
Best of the Week: Interview with Juergen Popp, Microplastic Detection, Machine Learning Models
February 7th 2025Top articles published this week include a video interview that explores using label-free spectroscopic techniques for tumor classification, an interview discussing how near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can classify different types of horsetails, and a news article about detecting colorless microplastics (MPs) using NIR spectroscopy and machine learning (ML).
Advancing Zebrafish Research: FT-IR Imaging Sheds Light on Tissue Preservation in Zebrafish
February 5th 2025Researchers at the University of Lublin and the Medical University of Lublin have demonstrated the first application of FT-IR imaging in zebrafish larvae, revealing that frozen samples better preserve tissue structure than chemical fixation.
Blood-Glucose Testing: AI and FT-IR Claim Improved Accuracy to 98.8%
February 3rd 2025A research team is claiming significantly enhanced accuracy of non-invasive blood-glucose testing by upgrading Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) with multiple-reflections, quantum cascade lasers, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, and machine learning. The study, published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A, reports achieving a record-breaking 98.8% accuracy, surpassing previous benchmarks for non-invasive glucose detection.
The Big Review IV: Hydrocarbons
January 25th 2025In the fourth installment of our review of infrared spectral interpretation, we will discuss the spectroscopy of hydrocarbons. We will look at the stretching and bending vibrations of methyl (CH3) and methylene (CH2) groups, how to distinguish them, and how to know whether one or both of these functional groups are present in a sample. We will also discuss aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically the C-H stretching and bending peaks of mono- and disubstituted benzene rings, and how to distinguish them.
The Essentials of Analytical Spectroscopy: Theory and Applications
January 23rd 2025This excerpt from The Concise Handbook of Analytical Spectroscopy, which spans five volumes, serves as a comprehensive reference, detailing the theory, instrumentation, sampling methods, experimental design, and data analysis techniques for each spectroscopic region.