When the antibodies on the surface of the nanotubes come in contact with a target protein, the proteins bind to the tubes and spread them apart a tiny bit.

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When these charged droplets come into contact with the surface of the print they collect any substances deposited on it, creating a thin liquid film.

ECONOMIST: Forensic technology

This film is form-fitted onto an audio device and creates wide area surface contact with the skin, or the inside of the ear canal.

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This microscopic scale and sensitivity allows the sensor to map a high-resolution image of electrical charge that occurs over the surface of a source material (for example a human finger), when it makes contact with a thin insulating surface (ie a plastic surface).

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The other is a non-contact method by detecting intensity of the invisible infrared light that naturally emanates from every surface in this Universe.

FORBES: Body temperature.

In 1967, the Soviet Venera 4 spacecraft entered the atmosphere of Venus and transmitted data back to Earth before losing contact about 15 miles above the surface.

CNN: Sunday,