Ashlee Vance proposes consumer-grade handheld mass spectrometers to detect fentanyl

@ashleevance Spectrometers are useless for chemical identification. But they can confirm that component mass is the same.

3:42 PM · Jul 15, 2026

RN

Ramez Naam@ramez

@ashleevance At scale and low price it makes a lot of sense. How to start the flywheel is the main question.

5:52 PM · Jul 15, 2026

GG

gg@GiggleVolt

@ashleevance Infinite demand at music festivals

12:56 PM · Jul 15, 2026

@per_asp3ra @ashleevance useless for small samples

3:46 PM · Jul 15, 2026

View all

Combined views

13.9K

2 posts, first seen 8h ago

100 likes14 comments

14 comments

28 saves

1 reposts

Sentiment

Positive50%50%Negative

Based on 9 visible X reactions from 19 accounts; directional sample.

Digg Deeper

Ask a question below.

Published answers will appear here.

Commentary on X

@ashleevance Spectrometers are useless for chemical identification. But they can confirm that component mass is the same.

3:42 PM · Jul 15, 2026

RN

Ramez Naam@ramez

@ashleevance At scale and low price it makes a lot of sense. How to start the flywheel is the main question.

5:52 PM · Jul 15, 2026

GG

gg@GiggleVolt

@ashleevance Infinite demand at music festivals

12:56 PM · Jul 15, 2026

@per_asp3ra @ashleevance useless for small samples

3:46 PM · Jul 15, 2026

The Backyard Astronomer🔭🪐🛰️🚀☄️@azsalesman

View all

TB

@ashleevance It’s a tricorder!

12:46 PM · Jul 15, 2026

AV

Ashlee Vance@ashleevance

Wouldn't some consumer version of this be a big seller in this Fentanyl and Peptides age?

12:27 PM · Jul 15, 2026

The Backyard Astronomer🔭🪐🛰️🚀☄️@azsalesman

TB

@ashleevance It’s a tricorder!

12:46 PM · Jul 15, 2026

AV

Ashlee Vance@ashleevance

Wouldn't some consumer version of this be a big seller in this Fentanyl and Peptides age?

12:27 PM · Jul 15, 2026