The Military-Grade Nano-Chip to Detect Cancer

Alstone, a tech firm in Cambridge, initially developed NANOCHIPS for the US military to detect poison gas. Inspired by co-founder Billy Boyle's personal experience with his wife's late cancer diagnosis, the company is now repurposing these chips to detect diseases through breath analysis. This noninvasive method could significantly improve early diagnosis and save lives. Alstone aims to create a compact, affordable device for both battlefield and medical use, with plans to market it within two years, pending sufficient funding.

What was the initial purpose of Alstone's NANOCHIPS?

• To improve communication systems

• To diagnose diseases

• To detect poison gas on the battlefield

• To enhance computer performance

What personal experience motivated Alstone's co-founder to repurpose the chips?

• His own battle with cancer

• His wife's late diagnosis of colon cancer

• A government mandate

• A friend's illness

How do Alstone's chips help in disease detection?

• By analyzing blood samples

• By monitoring breath for chemical markers

• By scanning body temperature

• By detecting changes in heart rate

What is one of the main challenges in developing the diagnostic device?

• Enhancing its color display

• Increasing its battery life

• Reducing its size and cost

• Making it waterproof

What is Alstone's timeline for bringing the cancer-detecting breathalyzers to market?

• Within five years

• Within one year

• Within six months

• Within two years