Google has plans to design an ingestible pill that detects the presence of malignant cells and other signs of disease, the company said Tuesday.
The pill would contain tiny magnetic particles that would travel through a patient’s bloodstream and register the presence of chemicals or cells associated with diseases like cancer on a little device, the Associated Press reports. The goal would be to allow patients to monitor their health in real-time to catch a potential illness before it’s even diagnosable.
The project, announced at a tech conference organized by the Wall Street Journal, is the latest life sciences innovation from the Google X facility. The secret research center, home of Google Glass, previously revealed a partnership with pharmaceutical company Novartis to create smart contact lenses that monitor diabetics’ blood sugar levels.
[AP]
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- Ukraine’s Plan to Survive Trump
- The Rise of a New Kind of Parenting Guru
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com