# 175. Is Your Drinking Water Safe? This Sensor Has The Answer

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2024-05-21
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer-Ne4G6efi

## Summary

Daniel and Forbode discuss a new sensor developed by researchers at MIT and Nanyang Technological University that detects lead in drinking water at concentrations as low as one part per billion. The device uses a photonic chip with crown ether molecules to bind lead ions, offering high accuracy and stability across different water types, unlike expensive lab tests or binary home kits. The hosts highlight the global health crisis of lead contamination, noting that 240 million people are affected, and explain how this technology could democratize water testing for households and industrial monitoring.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer#t=0) Introduction: Mouser Electronics and Amazon Sidewalk
- [4:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer#t=281) The Problem: Lead Contamination and Current Testing Limitations
- [8:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer#t=534) The Solution: MIT and NTU Photonic Chip Sensor
- [12:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer#t=751) Technical Details: Crown Ethers and Accuracy
- [14:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer#t=883) Applications: Industrial Monitoring and Future Handheld Device
- [16:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-05-21-175-is-your-drinking-water-safe-this-sensor-has-the-answer#t=1009) Conclusion: Democratizing Water Safety

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- MIT (company)
- Nanyang Technological University (company)
- EWG Tapwater Database (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [‘Smart’ Water Bottles | The Hottest Hot Chip | A Sensors & Photonics Merger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-08-23-smart-water-bottles-the-hottest-hot-chip-a-sensors-photonics-merger) (EE Times Current)
- [Ep 244: Fake Chips, Drinking Radium, and Spotting Slippery Neutrinos](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-11-17-ep-244-fake-chips-drinking-radium-and-spotting-slippery-neutrinos) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [74: All of Us Came in Sixth](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-29-74-all-of-us-came-in-sixth) (Embedded.fm)
- [IoT for Smart Water Management | Quandify's Ramtin Massoumzadeh | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-09-10-iot-for-smart-water-management-quandifys-ramtin-massoumzadeh-internet-of-things) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

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