evises an attack's scope, uncover hazardous hotspots, and track the direction of toxic gasses or biohazards. The devices contain sensors that sample the air for toxins as well as tiny radio transceivers that allow the devices to communicate with each other. By relaying data, the devices report to a human operator at the fringe of the disaster area; a display shows where the contamination is and how it's spreading. The research project brings together molecular biologists, device physicists, telecom engineers, information and game theorists, and civil engineers to develop self-configuring sensor networks for disaster recovery. This initial research will focuses on the detection of biohazards; however, the underlying principles can also be applied to many other critical situations, including searches for earthquake victims (using audio and body-heat sensors) and the monitoring of municipal water systems for leaks or contamination. In the aftermath of a disaster, the most pressing need is for information. Because it is often dangerous or even impossible to collect data manually in a disaster, the researchers' plan is to create an automated self-configuring remote sensor network. The idea grew out of studies of how such networks could be used on the battlefield, but the project focuses on civilian appli- cations. "If they can save the lives of soldiers, you can use them to save the lives of civilians," says Stephen Wicker, the Cornell professor of electrical and computer engineering who heads the research team. Two types of biosensors are being developed, capable of detecting a variety of agents, including toxins and bacteria, using biological material incorporated into silicon microcircuits. One type uses a membrane topped with binding sites, like those on the surface of a living cell, layered onto a silicon microcircuit. When a molecule, such as a neurotoxin, binds to the surface-just as it would when attacking a living target-a protein channel is opened, allowing ions to CONNECTIONS IN THE AIR-WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIE