I think this technology will eventually replace the current AFM. We've multiplied each of the old capabilities by at least 10, and it has lots of new applications.

The potential is huge. AFM started as a topography tool and has exploded to many more uses since. I'm sure people will find all sorts of uses for FIRAT that I haven't imagined.

From just one scan, we can get topography, adhesion, stiffness, elasticity, viscosity -- pretty much everything.

These numbers only tell part of the story. All the technology benefits will probably not be realized until it is used across much larger fields than the 20- to 40-acre trials on which these data are based.

This study should ease the fears of some of people who believe that sex selection technology will become widespread when it is readily available in the United States. There is no evidence that the technology will have a significant impact on the natural sex selection ratio.

We have taken the first step but there is at least a decade to go before this technology finds its way onto a spacecraft.