The team says the silicon-nitride device costs about $10, operates across 1200-1700 nm, and collects and processes measurements in under one second.
The reported sensor uses repeating optical responses and fast Fourier transforms to recover spectra. In the published tests, it classified plastics, pharmaceuticals, coffee, flour, and tea with 100% success, and measured concentrations in solutions to about 0.01%. The source says it continued operating from -20 C to 80 C.
The researchers also demonstrated measurements of skin moisture, blood alcohol, lactate, and glucose under conditions intended to reflect physiological environments. Noninvasive glucose tracking was shown over an extended period in one participant. The report does not establish clinical accuracy, performance across larger and diverse patient groups, regulatory clearance, or availability in a consumer wearable.