D Tuesday, October 6, 2009 METRO By ian graham Irish sensor will sniff out chemical weapons NEW technology to help the fight against terrorist attacks by detecting chemical weapons in seconds is being developed by scientists in Belfast. Queens University researchers an- nounced they are well advanced in developing new sensors to detect even tiny amounts of chemical agents. It is hoped they will also form the basis for new breathalyser-type in- struments to enable police to carry out roadside drugs testing in much the same way they detect alcohol. The new devices will use special gel pads to swipe an individual or crime scene to gather a sample which is then analysed by a scanning instrument that can detect the presence of chemi- cals within seconds. The scanner will use Ramon spec- troscopy, which involves a laser beam being shone onto the sample and measuring the energy of light that scatters from it to determine what chemical compound is present. Dr Steven Bell, who is leading the research, said: For the future, we hope to be able to capitalise on this research and expand the range of chemicals and drugs which these sen- sors are able to detect. TODAYS TOP SHOT: Bright Light City by Superflyninja metro readers from around the globe are invited to take part in one of the worlds largest photo competitions. This year the themes are: People, Places and Climate Change. For your chance to see your work in print and win one of three trips for two to a metro city of your choice, simply submit your photographs by Sunday October 18. Upload your photos now at www.metrophotochallenge.com/ie METRO PhOTO challenge A GIRL of 13 has left a few brows furrowed after she beat 40 experienced farmers to win a ploughing competition. Elly Deacon (pictured), who had driven a tractor for the first time four days earlier, carved up the field using her fathers six- tonne John Deere, impressing judges with her straight, smooth furrows. Elly, who lives nearby on a 120-hectare farm in Gorhambury, scored 82.5 out of 100 at the contest in Hertfordshire, UK. Elly beats farmers to be best in field THE Saudi king has dismissed a prominent hard-line cleric who criticised a university the king recently launched, which allows men and women to take classes together. King Abdullah (pictured) issued a decree sacking Sheik Saad bin Naser al-Shethri from the powerful Council of Senior Islamic Scholars. The decree did not give a reason, but last month Mr al- Shethri said mixing students was a great sin and a great evil under Islam and would distract male students. King sacks cleric in co-ed uni row index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html