in a team at the virginia institute of marine science reported the creation of a portable biosensor that could detect marine pollutants including oil much more quickly and cheaply than current technologies spier et al if deployed near oil facilities such sensors could provide early warning of spills and leaks and track dispersal patterns in real time these tools have a range of applications they enable the detection of genetically modified organisms and aquaculture escapees validate the identity of species and alert environmentalists to the presence of invasive species