Singapore scientists have developed the best lab on a chip yet—one that detects avian flu (H5N1) and gives results in under 30 minutes. At the heart of the chip is a new more efficient method of analyzing RNA, which will eventually lead to other quick tests such as those for HIV, SARS, and Hepatitis B.

Here, there are two fascinating stories rolled into one: the first is an epidemiological breakthrough and all of the implications it may have on predicting or preventing a future pandemic. Current technologies take about 5 hours to test for H5N1, and looks to be at least 40 times cheaper. And forget trying to lug that kind of medical equipment to a remote or harsh climate in southeast Asia .

The microfluidics that the device employs integrates the entire workflow of viral RNA isolation, purification, preconcentration, and detection. Dr. Juergen Pipper, one of the researchers, explains:

The novelty of our method lies in the way that the droplet itself becomes a pump, valve, mixer, solid-phase extractor and real-time thermocycler. Complex biochemical tasks can thus be processed in a fashion similar to that of a traditional biological laboratory on a miniature scale.

The complex microfluidic device will hopefully be in production in time to bring solace to countries where a SARS outbreak poses a threat.

Microphysical devices are also offering solace from your lackluster golf game. Check out Sonic Golf's nifty training tool, which emits a pleasant tone when your club is swung correctly and an high-pitched annoying one when you're about to hook a golf ball into the woods. The real usefulness comes from receiving feedback the instant your swing goes awry, so you'll know exactly which part of your golf stroke needs adjustment. The device contains microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that measure your swing's velocity and acceleration. The feedback mechanism created by the golfer and the device is what the device's inventor (Robert Grober, a Harvard physics professor) seems to think this is the key to mastering your stroke.

It is, of course, debatable which direction of research humanity should be most concerned about; improving golf scores or preventing global pandemics. For now, we get to have both.