I often wonder why the same technology / approaches used by NASA that enables satellites to read weak ground-based and under-ground biologically generated signals (water, plants, bacteria, etc.) from space and through atmospheres (this was all possible decades ago) has not been considered or applied to reading the weak biological signals generated by, say, hospital patients? Wouldn’t it be easier considering they are much closer to the devices than a satellite passing by a planet in space? We have the ability to read ultra-weak signals broadcast in space – consider that NASA received signals from the satellite Voyager after it left our solar system. We have technology that can detect the signals sent via a monitor cable 50 feet away from the detector and reconstruct them, so we can see what was being displayed on the screen.
- We have technology that can read extremely faint signals generated in other galaxy’s with a high level of precision. We are able to detect ultra-weak signals in the noise of space! NASA has a satellite that can detect weak radio signals equivalent to being able to detect a cell phone turning off and on that was placed on the moon.
- NASA can detect water content in soil by measuring the amount of microwave energy radiated from it, from a satellite in space.
- Using a receiver called “SOFIA” mounted on the top of a plane flying high in the atmosphere, scientists were able to detect molecules located in a planetary nebula located 3,000 light years away from Earth.
- Van Eck Phreaking – a technique used to eavesdrop on electronic devices by picking up the side-band electromagnetic emissions that they generate. This enables the ability to recreate these signals or data to spy on the electronic device. Side-band electromagnetic radiation emissions are present in (and with the proper equipment, can be captured from) keyboards, computer displays, printers, and other electronic devices.
- Scientists have found a way to communicate with miners after a mine collapse has occurred (through Earth communications) using a pulsed ferrite magnetic field generator.
- Physicists are able to convert radio signals into optical signals at room temperature, providing a way of amplifying extremely weak signals without introducing noise.
- A team of physicists have developed a theory describing how to detect weak electrical signals using light and something very like a nano-sized loudspeaker.
- Researchers have built a tiny receiver, the size of two atoms, able to withstand extremely harsh environments and that is biocompatible. Able to receive radio (and other) signals – if you need to boost reception, you simply add more.
- Researchers have developed a cheap and practical optical magnetic field sensor that works at room temperature or at body temperature, that can detect signals generated by the nervous system.
- Researchers developed a hybrid magnetic sensor that is 200 times more sensitive than most commercially available sensors.
- Wireless chargers are no longer new – here is an article that describes how wireless chargers work on moving objects. And another describing how the charging effect can be extended by up to 15 feet away using Ultrasound!
- A through-metal-wall power and data transmission review that describes various coupling methods to enable the ability to send signals and power through metal walled enclosures. Here is another article reviewing trends in wireless power transfer systems and applications.
- We can read computer data as it is transmitted through cords or as it is being presented on a monitor that is located in sealed rooms, in an open air environment, using ultra sensitive equipment located tens of meters away from the computers that are in other rooms. Electrical signals generated by a computer disconnected from a network can be detected through a steel reinforced concrete wall 30 meters away.
- Information can be taken from computers that are isolated from networks by installing malware on them that uses the electromagnetic radiation associated with the video display adapter to generate signals that can be detected by cell phones.
- Another version of the above, uses the computer’s memory bus to act as an antenna and transmit data wirelessly to a cell phone.
- Lasers can be used to read changes in magnetic fields as low as 1 nano-tesla in a 1 Hz bandwidth.
- To eliminate noise introduced by amplifiers, faint radio waves generated by the galaxy can now be detected and converted directly into optical signals [Sources: Nature.com, Spectrum IEEE].
- We have technologies that can locate people behind walls using signals less than 0.1% the signal strength of a Wi-Fi signal. We have technology that can sense a missile launch on the other side of the world. We have technologies that can track people as they move around. US Spy satellites can zoom into any location on the Earth to view ground items and provide photo’s that look as clear and close as photo’s taken on Earth using commercial grade photography equipment!
- A commercial equivalent to the above, a company is deploying a new satellite system that can generate through-cloud pictures, at night, rain or shine, up to a 50cm x 50 cm resolution, that can ‘see’ through walls and roofs to show the contents of buildings.
- An open-source Bluetooth sensor beacon that has a 1 km range in an open environment (unshielded).