Nanoparticles and artificial intelligence can help researchers detect pollutants in water, soil and blood

Tiny particles bounce light around in a unique way, a property that researchers are using to detect pollutants in water and soil samples.

By: Andres B. Sanchez Alvarado, Rice University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 27, 2026

Words: 1,222

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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By Andres B. Sanchez Alvarado, Rice University

Across the U.S., hundreds of sites on land or in lakes and rivers are heavily contaminated with hazardous waste produced by human activity. Many of these places, designated as Superfund sites by the Environmental Protection Agency, can be found in Houston, Texas, the city where my colleagues and I live and work.

Hazardous contaminants present at these sites that can increase the risk of cancer – such as …

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