Alasdair Clark - Nanophotonic taste buds as chemical sensors

Researchers at the University of Glasgow are developing the world’s first solid-state “artificial tongue” for rapid, on-site chemical sensing.

This innovative technology uses nanophotonic sensor chips to produce unique colour patterns that identify a liquid’s chemical content instantly, offering a transformative alternative to slow, centralised lab testing. A high-TRL portable prototype is already being trialled with partners including Scottish Water and the Faroe Islands government. With applications spanning beverage, fragrance, and agricultural industries, this technology promises to improve quality control, reduce testing times from weeks to seconds, and deliver significant operational efficiencies to manufacturers worldwide.

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