NIST Researchers Use Cellphone Compass to Measure Tiny Concentrations of Compounds Important for Human Health

Image caption: Illustration shows how a smartphone magnetometer can measure a host of biomedical properties in liquid samples using a magnetized hydrogel. Image credit: K. Dill / NIST. Technical contacts: Gary Zabow and Mark Ferris. Media contact: Katie Palubicki. NIST: News – updated April 2, 2024. Paper: Nature Communications.

• Smartphones can now measure glucose, a key marker for diabetes, as well as other molecules and biomarkers, thanks to their built-in magnetic compasses.

• NIST researchers added magnetic particles to a porous material that reacts to the presence of these molecules and causes the material to expand or contract.

• Using these magnetized materials in conjunction with cellphone compasses could potentially enable individuals to diagnose disease and detect environmental toxins. […]

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