Inscentinel

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title: "Inscentinel" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["chemical-companies-of-the-united-kingdom"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inscentinel" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

Inscentinel was a British firm based at Rothamsted Experimental Station in Hertfordshire. They specialise in the development of insect olfaction technologies for the detection of trace chemicals, specifically Hymenoptera training techniques and technologies.

History

Inscentinel was founded in 2000, and was a spin-out resulting from a joint venture project between Unilever and Rothamsted Research. The firm was backed with venture capital, funding from the British Government, and other investment.

Technology

Conventionally, detection of chemicals at low vapour pressures has been based on mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and the use of sniffer dogs. Insect olfaction is sensitive down to parts per trillion and the use of insects to conduct searches for illegal drugs, and explosives—particularly in security applications such as demining—is envisaged. The technology has been tested by QinetiQ for Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. Potential health uses are also reported, such as for TB. Inscentinel is a patent holder. The species of bee used is Apis mellifera.

References

References

  1. "Inscentinel Ltd". USA Today.
  2. "sniffer bees". Cnet.
  3. "Pearson Matthews Research & Development". PMUK.
  4. "Companies associated with Rothamsted Research". Rothamsted Research.
  5. "OT3 Annual Statement". Oxford Technology 3 Annual Statement.
  6. "Portfolio - Environmental Technologies". Midven.
  7. (April 2011). "Inscentinel Develops Bee-Based Sensor Device to Detect Explosives". AZO sensors.
  8. "Sniffer bees set to snare suicide bombers". This Is London.
  9. Hutchinson, Alex. "Bees vs. Bombs". Popular Mechanics.
  10. (7 July 2011). "Inscentinel Honeybees Sniff For Explosives: Science Fiction in the NewsInscentinel Honeybees Sniff For Explosives: Science Fiction in the News". Science Profiles.
  11. "Pre-Trial Assessment (PTA) of the Inscentinel system using bees for detection of explosives.". GICHD.
  12. (3 October 2010). "Bees Can Sniff Out Disease in Humans". Express Group Newspapers.
  13. "Null Hypothesis | News".
  14. "Detection of odors using insects". Justia.
  15. "Insect Loading System". PatentStormUS.
  16. Khot, Anna. (10 January 2010). "Humble Honey Bee Helping National Security". Naked Scientists.

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