Gas Sensors (IMAGE) Rice University Caption Rice University scientists have created programmed bacteria that serve as gas sensors to help them "see" into soil and learn about the behavior of the microbial communities within. When the engineered bacterium receives genetic information from another bacterium, it releases a gas to "report" the transaction. Credit Jonathan Silberg and Shelly Cheng/Rice University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.