Could your cell phone be the first line of defense?

Will your cell phone help protect America from nuclear disaster?

The Department of Homeland Security hopes so. The DHS Science & Technology arm began approaching businesses this month with the intention of developing an integrated radiation sensor for use in cell phones. The sensors would continually test the air for radioactive elements, and relay the information to a central monitoring system if necessary.

“It’s a great way to get millions of detectors out there,” says DHS Director of Innovation Roger McGinnis.

Users would be able to deactivate the sensor, similar to the opt-out feature included with most GPS-enabled cell phones. However, the goal is “ubiquitous detection,” and the strength of the system lies in the sheer number of potential data points. If several cell phones in a specific area detected a potential problem, GPS information could allow first-responders to triangulate the exact trouble spot, and react accordingly.

Other potential applications stemming from similar sensor technology could help identify biological hazards like influenza, salmonella, and e Coli.