Mike Thorpe just invented the world’s best breath tester. This nifty device uses a laser to see what sort of things come out of your mouth when you breathe out. Mike's amazing breath tester can tell you what every one of them is.

Can you believe that your breath might have a thousand different things in it? Some of them mean you’re healthy, but others mean you might be getting sick. That's why your doctor might want to have one of Mike's breath testers in her office some day. You could blow into it, and she’d be able to tell whether you’re A-OK.

The new breath tester isn't for sale yet. Right now, it's just in a laboratory at JILA. Before your doctor can buy it, a company has to make them. Then, lots of different medical scientists have to test them to make sure they work really well. After all that, the company can sell the breath testers to doctors all over the country.

Your doctor could have a laser breath tester in her office in 10 years or so. —Julie Phillips

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