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Scots scientists have harnessed the power of the shrimp to combat counterfeit drugs, find fake spirits, fight fraud and even solve murders, check teeth and test the quality of jaffa cakes. 

Experts from Glasgow-based Gilden Photonics have built a range of equipment which uses the same techniques as the mantis shrimp to identify fake from reality. 

The aggressive sea creature, which lives mostly in the warmer waters of Australasia is the only life form on earth known to have hyperspectral vision which enables it to recognise different types of coral, prey and predators, all of which may appear the same colour. 

Unlike the human eye, which is limited to visible light, hyperspectral imaging can detect and measure ultraviolet and infra-red. 

Now, using similar techniques to the mantis shrimp, Gilden Photonics has developed a way of using hyperspectral imaging to collect and process information from across the electromagnetic spectrum. 

"Hyperspectral imaging has been around for about 15 years but very few people know about it and it's potential has until recently remained largely untapped," said Kevin Lynch of Gilden Photonics. 

"The sensors we have built look at objects using a vast portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Certain objects leave unique 'fingerprints' across the electromagnetic spectrum. 

These fingerprints are known as spectral signatures and aid the identification of the materials that make up a scanned object". 

Experts from around the world recently gathered in Glasgow (April 13-14) for the world's first conference on hyperspectral imaging and its uses across a variety of industries ranging from crime fighting, medicine and food manufacturing to agricultural, defence and even astronomy.  

Glasgow-based Gilden Photonics, leading developers of the new technology, teamed up with the University of Strathclyde to host the international conference on the emerging expertise and the launch of the world's first Hyperspectral Imaging Centre of Excellence.  

The university hosted the two day event which focusing on the potential uses and practical applications of the ground breaking technology in eight different industries.  

Experts from around the world gathered to hear about the advances in using the technology in dentistry to detect tooth decay without drilling or x-rays, testing the quality of food and drink, in agriculture to search out weeds and pests, for national security and for crime fighting by using it to detect invisible blood splatters or identify fake bank notes and products. 

"The sheer range of applications is mind boggling. We had speakers talking about how hyperspectral imaging is being used to identify improvised and unexploded explosive devises, and how farmers are using it on unmanned aerial drones to identify crop problems, and even how it is being used to test the quality and consistency of jaffa cakes,"said Mr Lynch. 

Hyperspectral imaging has a range of uses in medicine and is now being used in dentistry to detect decay without the need for potentially harmful X-rays and by doctors to investigate damage to human skin such as from bruising or burns. 

The conference also saw the launch of the new Hyperspectral imaging centre at the University of Strathclyde, co-sponsored by the University's Bridging the Gap Initiative and Gilden Photonics, which will provide access for businesses to all the basic technology and expertise for research and development purposes.  

"Anybody from any industry sector can approach the centre with any problem and we will do our best to help them use the technology to find a solution," said Mr Lynch.  

The centre will be staffed by specialists from Gilden Photonics and the University's Electronic, Electrical and Engineering Department along with experts from the Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.