Explosives detection really comes in three forms – you can either have a dog sniff around bags and people, have bags go through an “EDS” machine (which stands for Explosives Detection System) that uses x-ray imaging, or you can have machine “sniffers”, which are in use both in airports, public high risk buildings and embassies, for example. We’re going to focus on the last one, since we all know how dogs work, and the EDS machines are basically x-ray machines with a computer programmed to look for the densities and patterns correlating to a bomb or chunk of explosives. We’ve covered x-ray machines and the likes here and here and here.

So. “Sniffers” are those pesky little machines that eat little strips of paper or Teflon and tell the operator if there are traces of explosives on them. Simple enough, really, as long as we don’t get too technical. There are a few “buts” in there, and we’ll get to those. First of all, we’ll let you in on how the sniffers basically work and why the TSA and other security agencies and companies like to use them.

Sniffers can analyses samples relatively quickly, they’re easier to maintain and keep than live animals, and they can be calibrated to detect either a wide range of materials, or a very narrow range. Also, they speak our language, in most cases, so they’re easier to “interrogate” than a dog, for example. Also, anyone can use them after an hour or two of training – unlike dog handling, which takes a lifetime to learn.