A real “electronic nose”, invented in Italy, that can be used to recognize the freshness of a wine and and its origin: scientist Sonia Freddi, in the laboratories of the Physics Department of the Catholic University of Brescia, created it.

The instrument is based on the fact that all foods and beverages emit particular gas molecules, which can indicate whether a product is fresh or spoiled: the "nose" detects these biomarker molecules, thanks to the analysis of volatile components, and can potentially be applied in a variety of fields, such as quality control, freshness and origin of products. A discovery that paves the way for a wide range of tests for quality control.