Thermo Fisher Scientific (San Jose, California), has acquired Max Analytical Technologies (East Windsor, Connecticut). Max Analytical has developed Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy –based gas analysis solutions for process monitoring, source testing, and ambient air monitoring. Its systems are used extensively in semiconductor manufacturing, industrial process monitoring, and environmental health and safety applications. The Max Analytical portfolio complements Thermo Fisher’s line of FT-IR instruments, software, and services, and expands the breadth of Thermo’s vibrational spectroscopy products.
PNNL and BaySpec Launch Compact Mass Spectrometry System for Rapid Narcotics Detection
July 8th 2025The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) VaporID, which is a newly developed portable air sampling system incorporating a miniaturized mass spectrometer (MS), can detect trace levels of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and even explosives like TNT with great accuracy.
Radar and Soil Spectroscopy Boost Soil Carbon Predictions in Brazil’s Semi-Arid Regions
July 7th 2025A new study published in Geoderma demonstrates that combining soil spectroscopy with radar-derived vegetation indices and environmental data significantly improves the accuracy of soil organic carbon predictions in Brazil’s semi-arid regions.
Advancing Deep Soil Moisture Monitoring with AI-Powered Spectroscopy Drones
July 7th 2025A Virginia Tech study has combined drone-mounted NIR hyperspectral imaging (400 nm to 1100 nm) and AI to estimate soil moisture at root depths with remarkable accuracy, paving the way for smarter irrigation and resilient farming.